Rockwell Diamonds has found four diamonds each weighing more than 100 carats from its operations in the Middle Orange River region in South Africa, the company said.
It also said it has unrecovered a higher than average number of diamonds weighing less than 100 carats. “This reinforces management's decision to focus operations in this region and embrace new processing technology,” the firm said.
One stone weighing 116 carats and another of 138 carats were recovered at the Saxendrift processing plant were recovered at the Saxendrift processing plant from gravels originating from the Saxendrift Extension pit.
A 126-carat stone and a 169-carat diamond were also recovered from a mining area that has recently been opened up at the Saxendrift Hill Complex (SHC). The recently commissioned SHC plant utilizes Bourevestnik X-ray technology in both the concentration and recovery areas.
The diamonds will be sold into the beneficiation joint venture with Steinmetz Diamonds at market value. Rockwell will also participate equally in the value uplift once these stones have been polished and sold.
CEO and President, James Campbell, said: "Recovery of four rough diamonds exceeding 100 carats within a three week period is a milestone in our objective to grow production in the Middle Orange River region where we have a significant inventory of high value in situ diamonds. It also attests to the quality of our recovery processes where the implementation of fit-for-purpose technology has improved our ability to recover large stones. This includes the Bulk X-ray technology which we pioneered in the full production environment at SHC as well as our strong skills at Saxendrift where efficiency initiatives in the pan plant are paying off.
"Our objective to increase alluvial production volumes in this area to 500,000m3 per month is aimed at improving the quarterly earnings visibility of the Company through the more regular production of large stones such as these. Importantly, these +100 carat stones were recovered from two new mining areas, namely the Saxendrift Extension (acquired with the purchase of the Jasper project in March 2012) and the Saxendrift Hill Extension, and show tangible progress with our strategy," he added.
