(IDEX Online) - Diamond explorer Botswana Diamonds has announced that its associate Vutomi Mining Pty Ltd has received a mining permit for the iconic Marsfontein Mine. The permit covers the mine's diamond-bearing gravels and unprocessed stockpiles.
The mine, which comprises a kimberlite blow, operated for two years in the late 1990s with a pay-back of its entire development cost in less than four days.
Marsfontein's run of mine grade was 172cpht (at a bottom cut off of +1.2mm). Evaluation work on the gravel and stockpiles surrounding the mine, which were conducted at the time of mining, showed them to be diamondiferous, including fancy color diamonds.These deposits were overlooked when the mine was closed.
Vutomi has partnered with Eurafrican Diamond Corporation (EDC) to mine and process the identified deposits on both Marsfontein and Thorny River.
Botswana Diamonds holds a 40-percent interest in Vutomi Mining.