Higher Grades Sustain Gahcho Ku?(C) Production

RAPAPORT... Production at the Gahcho Ku?(C) mine was flat in the thirdquarter as higher grades offset the impact of a planned closure. Ore from the asset yielded 2.4 carats of rough diamonds pertonne - an 8% increase versus a year ago. Total output was therefore stable at1.8 million carats, even as the amount of material treated fell 8% to 759,000tonnes. "A planned maintenance shutdown in the plant during thequarter resulted in less ore tonnes passing through the plant in comparison towhat has been achieved in previous quarters of 2018," Mountain Province, whichowns just under half of the asset, said in a statement last week. "However,daily throughput in the plant continues to be consistent with our targets forthe year." Mountain Province's share of production was 891,000 caratsfrom its 49% stake in the Gahcho Ku?(C) project. De Beers holds the remaining 51%. Mountain Province expects total full-year production at GahchoKu?(C) to reach the upper end of the miner's previous estimate of 6.3 million to6.6 million carats. Image: Gahcho Ku?(C) mine. (Mountain Province)