Rainy Season Dampens Firestone Output

RAPAPORT... Output at Firestone Diamonds slipped in the third fiscal quarteras the company processed ore from a lower-grade portion of the mine. Production dropped 19% to 155,206 carats at the company'sLiqhobong mine in Lesotho in the three months ending March 31. Throughout the rainyseason, Firestone mines the northern portion of the pit, which containslower-grade ore. "During the final quarter of the year, mining will return tothe higher grade, southern part of the pit," Firestone CEO Paul Bosma said lastweek.  Revenue from rough sales fell 4.5% year on year to $16.8million for the quarter. Sales volume slid 3% to 211,368 carats, with the minerachieving an average price of $80 per carat, compared to $81 the previous year. Image: The Liqhobong mine. (Firestone Diamonds)