Restarted Ellendale Project Yields First Diamond

RAPAPORT... Burgundy Diamond Mines has recovered a 1.51-carat, fancy-yellow diamond at its Ellendale Project, the first since it restarted operations at the Australian site.Burgundy discovered the stone at the Blina mine, which lies adjacent to Ellendale and forms part of the joint project, it said Thursday. The find came as the miner reached the final stages of commissioning the deposit. It has now started to ramp up ore-processing rates, and it expects its inaugural commercial production in the fourth quarter.The company will also continue exploration activities in the area and will complete a scoping study to determine diamond-bearing regions at the site for further development, it noted."The first diamond recovered...is an example of the potential quality of product from the Blina alluvials and the wider Ellendale project, and we look forward to building towards commercial production of these exquisite fancy-yellow diamonds," said Burgundy managing director Peter Ravenscroft. "This is especially timely as we finalize arrangements for the upcoming Australian launch of our ultra-luxury Maison Mazerea diamond brand later this month, which will be the vehicle to market and sell polished retail stones."Image: The 1.51-carat yellow diamond. (Burgundy Diamond Mines)