Name of the Project
Thorny River diamond dyke project.
Location
The project is a consolidation of the Frischgewaagt, Hartbeesfontein and Doornrivier properties, in Limpopo, South Africa.
Project Owner/s
Diamond exploration and project development company Botswana Diamonds (BOD).
Project Description
Thorny River comprises the eastern extension of the kimberlite dyke and/or pipe systems on which the Klipspringer and Marsfontein mines are located, both of which have been economically mined.
The project has a modelled in situ-grade range of 46 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) to 74 cpht and a diamond value range from $120/ct to $220/ct.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
Not stated.
Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.
Latest Developments
BOD has successfully completed its nine-hole drilling programme at Thorny River.
The objective was to investigate if two kimberlite blows – the River and River Extension – were one contiguous orebody, thus increasing the overall resource and improving the commercial prospects of the project.
Nine percussion holes totalling 483 m were drilled.
One hole intersected 19.1 m of kimberlite zone, which the company has said is encouragingly the biggest thickness found in all three drilling programmes to date. Another hole intersected a thickness of 13.5 m of kimberlite zone.
These two intersections came from extending the River blow towards the Extension blow. The average kimberlite zone intersection was between 1.5 m and 5 m.
Work has now begun to create a model of the combined blows to estimate the potential resource with plans for possible opencast mining.
Two new additional targets have been identified close to the current area. These could also be blows, thus increasing resources. They will also be drilled.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Botswana Diamonds, tel +353 1 833 2833/+353 1 833 2833, fax +353 1 833 3505 or email info@botswanadiamonds.co.uk.