TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – After receiving approval from the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs, triple-listed Lucara Diamond Corp is ready to proceed with extracting a bulk sample from one of two high-potential exploration licences located on trend with the company's flagship Karowe mine.
The licences, awarded in 2014, were believed to host at least three known diamondiferous kimberlites – BK02, AK11 and AK12 – and the company advised that it was ready to move forward with more in-depth exploration work on BK02 in November.
"The receipt of the permits is a positive step forward in our resource extension campaign. We are excited about the prospects of these licences based on the historical work conducted on the property,” president and CEO William Lamb stated.
Lucara said it had completed building and commissioning a bulk sample plant for use during the 5 000 t campaign and first results were expected before year-end.
The company had already awarded mining and transport contracts, with earthmoving equipment expected to be mobilised to the BK02 kimberlite within the next two weeks. Initial work would involve removing the overburden and trenching, to determine the optimal sample areas before extraction started.
Lucara advised that applications were in progress for bulk sample extraction from the AK11 and AK12 kimberlites, along with the required permits to allow drilling on the respective sites.