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Diamonds
Junior diamond mining sector in trouble
By: Darren Parker 18th June 2021 The small and junior diamond mining industry in South Africa is in dire straits, says South African Diamond Producers Organisation (Sadpo) vice chairperson Lyndon de Meillon. “Over the past 16 years, we've lost about 90% of the companies involved in the sector and about 20 000 jobs. Covid-19 has... →
Diamond market’s sparkle returns
By: Darren Parker 18th June 2021 Diamond demand bounced back stronger than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020, says diamond producer De Beers senior sales manager for South Africa Richard Steenkamp. “Much of this recovery is attributed to the key holiday selling season for diamond jewellery, which outperformed the... →
Institute’s online courses fare well
By: Darren Parker 18th June 2021 Training organisation Corlia Roberts Institute of Diamonds has added a gold and precious metals course, as well as a second-hand and estate jewellery course, to its roster. The courses aim to assist working professionals in the diamond industry in honing new skills and applying expert knowledge... →
Diamond market outlook at even odds
By: Mamaili Mamaila 5th June 2020 The diamond industry has been dealing with an oversupplied market since upstream production hit a multi-year high in 2017 and as the mid-stream segment delivered inventory in 2018 and 2019. →
Diamonds are forever in times of crisis
By: Mamaili Mamaila 5th June 2020 Some mined commodities, particularly precious metals, such as gold, have increased in value, owing to the perception that they can be safe-haven assets during times of crisis. →
Diamonds’ upward trend to resume post pandemic
By: Mamaili Mamaila 5th June 2020 Although diamond prices were gradually recovering from their low during the 2008/09 financial crisis, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdowns in many countries have caused trading to come to a halt. →
Sector ahead of the sustainability curve, challenges remain
By: Mamaili Mamaila 5th June 2020 With many local diamond mining operations reaching their end of life, the rehabilitation and remediation of such sites – in a closure and liquidation context – has been a particular focus in recent years, says law firm Bowmans partner Wandisile Mandlana. →
Manufacturer completes DRC alluvial mining equipment project
By: Khutso Maphatsoe 7th June 2019 Alluvial diamond mining equipment manufacturer PCF Engineering has completed a multimillion-rand project for a client active in the Tshikapa diamond field in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the manufacture and supply of a variety of equipment. PCF Engineering supplied gravel pumps,... →
ECONOMIC ENDEAVOUR For some small mining companies it is much cheaper to do alluvial mining in the rivers
Zero harm is possible – Zikalala 
By: Martin Creamer 7th June 2019 Nompumelelo (Mpumi) Zikalala has hit the ground running as the newly appointed Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations in South Africa and Canada, which employ more than 5 500 people, including contractors. The focus of the De Beers Group Managed Operations leadership team is on... →
Company provides maintenance and repair services for mining industry
By: Khutso Maphatsoe 7th June 2019 Having recently completed a large facility management project for diamond processing organisation the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in Gaborone, Botswana, industrial rope-access specialist Skyriders has found a faster, more efficient way of conducting maintenance on site through rope access. The... →
Technological advancements unlock midwater mining
By: Paige Müller 8th June 2018 Using effective, remote marine mining tools that can handle rugged and uneven midwater terrains has placed abundant midwater diamond deposits within reach of small-scale mining operations, says local diamond exploration company Mza Diamond Resources CEO Willem Steenkamp. He notes that geologists... →
Beneficiation industry declines amid restrictive legislative environment, training dearth
By: Paige Müller 8th June 2018 The South African diamond beneficiation market is no longer globally competitive, says rough and polished diamonds and precious stones trading association World Federation of Diamond Bourses president Ernest Blom. He tells Mining Weekly that the local diamond beneficiation industry has “shrunk... →
Welding Alloys South Africa
8th June 2018 Wear specialist Welding Alloys South Africa (WASA) and its Mozambique subsidiary KRAM, based in Tete, specialise in the prevention, protection and reduction of wear caused by various mechanisms. All sectors of industry experience wear and the accompanying financial consequences to protect plant... →
Diamond industry longevity on the line
By: Paige Müller 8th June 2018 The implementation of enabling mining policies by government is key in safeguarding the South African diamond industry from further decline and a worrying contraction, says Global Diamond Network consultant and industry heavyweight Dr John Bristow. Bristow states that the local diamond mining... →
Canadian junior mining company makes progress in Northern Cape
15th December 2017 Canadian junior mining company Tango Mining has made progress at its Oena diamond project, based in the Northern Cape in South Africa, appointing diamond recovery company Bluedust 7 as its mining contractor, which it announced in October. The contract will take place for a 60-month period, during... →
Eighth high-value Angolan diamond discovered
15th December 2017 Australian diamond mining and exploration company Lucapa Diamonds’ Lulo mine, in Angola, delivered pleasing diamond recoveries in November, on the back of the eighth discovery larger than 100 ct at the mine, reinforcing a strong performance from its operations in October, states MD Stephen... →
Initial mining programme expected to start next year
15th December 2017 Marine and land-based mining company Diamond Fields International has reaffirmed its commitment to its Namibian operations, announcing at the start of November an initial mining programme for its ML111 licence in offshore Namibia in 2018. The initial mining programme for the licence area will... →
Lesotho mine delivers another high-value diamond
15th December 2017 Global diamond producer Gem Diamonds’ Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho yielded a high-quality 202 ct Type IIa-D colour, the seventh diamond over 100 ct to be recovered this year. The announcement marks the seventh diamond of over 100 ct to be recovered in 2017 from Letšeng. The mine, it is... →
Underground mine plans for Karowe moving forward
15th December 2017 The results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) announced by diamond miner Lucara Diamonds in November demonstrate the potential economic viability for the development of an underground mine at Karowe, in Botswana. The development of the underground mine is planned after the completion of... →
Welding Alloys South Africa
4th July 2017 To lead the market in engineered wear protection solutions and flux cored welding wire technology, Welding Alloys South Africa (WASA) is focused on responding to its customers’ needs. Part of the Welding Alloys group, which covers more than 150 countries through a network of 30 subsidiaries... →
Modern exploration tech to revive local diamond mining
By: Robyn Wilkinson 9th June 2017 With the application of third-generation exploration technologies, South Africa may prove to be the next diamond exploration frontier, says diamond explorer Botswana Diamonds MD James Campbell. →
Africa ramping up diamond exploration
By: Robyn Wilkinson 9th June 2017 As exploration activity in the African diamond mining industry resurges in expectation of a supply shortfall in the next five to eight years, mining consultant The MSA Group is preparing its facilities to meet a growth in demand for its services. →
New mine design focused on realising business excellence
By: Robyn Wilkinson 9th June 2017 Johannesburg-based project management and engineering company Paradigm Project Management (PPM) will apply its “three halves” philosophy to design and develop diamond producer Stellar Diamonds’ Tongo-Tonguma project, in Sierra Leone. →
RADICAL REVIEW NECESSARY With a diamond supply shortfall looming, exploration companies must employ innovative planning to obtain funding for new projects
Difficult drilling proves rewarding at Koffiefontein
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Diamond producer Petra Diamonds’ geological team has gained access to the kimberlite deposit between the 60 m level and 72 m level at its Koffiefontein project, in the Free State, owing to diamond drilling services provider Lesedi Drilling and Mining Contracting Company’s assistance in... →
Junior miner to complete facility expansions this year
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 All of the facility expansions under way at the Krone-Endora project, in Limpopo, are on track for completion by the end of the year, says Canadian junior mining company Diamcor Mining CEO Dean Taylor. →
‘Exciting prospect’ awaits decision
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Diamond explorer and project developer Botswana Diamonds is in discussions with its joint venture (JV) partner, Botswana State-owned copper and nickel producer BCL, to undertake essential verification drilling on a cluster of diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes at the Maibwe exploration project in... →
JV plant to process Kimberley underground ore by H2 2017
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Diamond miner Petra Diamonds expects all ore from its Kimberley underground operation to be processed through the combined treatment plant associated with its Kimberley Ekapa Mining (KEM) joint venture (JV) from the second half of fiscal year 2017 onwards. →
Bulk of Cullinan C-Cut Phase 1 nears completion
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Mining services company Murray & Roberts Cementation will complete its contract at diamond miner Petra Diamonds’ Gauteng-based Cullinan mine this month, concluding the largest portion of the R4-billion Phase 1 expansion project that will initially extend the diamond mine’s life span by about 15 year →
DG Lab Services
23rd September 2016 This knowledge and experience also encompasses testwork capabilities envisioned for future expansion. →
Industry growth in hands of junior explorers
By: Kimberley Smuts 29th July 2016 Diamond exploration enquiries received by mining industry consultancy The MSA Group from small players in Botswana, Lesotho and the Free State have increased considerably since May this year. This includes greenfield kimberlite indicator mineral testing, alluvial diamond mineral resource... →
Large-diameter drilling at Orapa project may start at year-end
By: Kimberley Smuts 29th July 2016 Exploration company Tsodilo Resources aims to extract between 2 000 t and 3 000 t of kimberlite from BK16, potentially one of the last economic kimberlite pipes in the Orapa kimberlite province in Botswana, during a large-diameter drilling (LDD) programme in the fourth quarter of the year. The... →
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