Name and location
Orapa bulk sampling project, Botswana.

Project description
The project entails bulk sampling on the Orapa BK24 kimberlite, and will include excavating three vertical shafts into the BK24 kimberlite to access new kimberlite, below the basalt breccia zone, at about 30 m below surface. The results of the current bulk sampling on BK24 will determine the scale and scope of future bulk sampling operations. The BK22 and BK23 samples will also be targeted for sampling.

The Orapa kimberlite field is one of the largest diamondiferous kimberlite fields in the world, containing 79 known kimberlites, of which the majority have been proven to be diamondiferous.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Shaft 1 was scheduled for completion at the end of the first week of June, shaft 2 at the end of June and shaft 3 at the end of July; however, these dates are dependent on a number of factors, including water seepage management and the penetration rates of the calcrete and kimberlite.

Breakdown of main contracts
Not stated.

Client
Tawana Resources and Novak Investments. Nowak Investments is required to conduct and sole-fund the bulk sampling programme to earn a 51% interest in the project.

At the completion of the programme, Tawana Resources will have the option to contribute 49% of ongoing expenditure or allow Nowak Investments to continue sole funding to earn a 70% interest in the project by completing a bankable feasibility study. Thereafter both parties will contribute pro rata to expenditures.

Latest developments
Bulk sampling activities on the BK24 kimberlite have progressed well since starting in late April.

The presence of a substantial number of G10 garnets has given a strong indication that the diamondiferous kimberlite is likely to yield an encouraging grade.

The first vertical shaft has reached the 30-m target depth from surface and has penetrated kimberlite.

The second shaft is currently at 26,5-m depth from surface and has not yet penetrated kimberlite and is being continued to the 30-m target depth.

The third shaft is at 12,7-m depth from surface and has intersected kimberlite breccia.
Excavation of this shaft has been stopped temporarily until the other two shafts have been completed.

Nowak is planning to collect 100 t of kimberlite from each shaft by excavating the material from four 5-m tunnels dug radially from the base of each shaft at the 30-m level.

A dense-medium separation plant has been set up in Francistown, in Botswana, in preparation for the processing of the BK24 kimberlite samples, which was expected to start in late June.

Participants
None stated.

Construction materials
Not stated.

On budget and on time?
Too early to state.

Contact details for project information
Tawan Resources, Wolf Marx, tel +61 3 98635222 or
email wolf.marx@tawana.com.au