27 November 2024
Aim-listed BotswanaDiamonds has received environmental authorisation from the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to drill its two targets in the Kalahari.
The proposed drilling programme will focus on two gravity anomalies of 12 ha and 6 ha close to the company’s KX36 discovery, which are of particular interest to Botswana Diamonds.
The new kimberlite targets have the potential to upgrade the existing resources in the area, including at the Ghaghoo mine, which is currently under care and maintenance, and located about 60 km from the KX36 diamond discovery.
The KX36 project is a 3.5 ha kimberlite pipe in the Kalahari. The pipe has resources of 17.9-million tonnes at 35 ct per hundred tonnes (cpht) indicated and 6.7-million tonnes at 36 cpht inferred at $65/ct. The modelled grade range is 57 cpht to 76 cpht at an estimated diamond value of up to $107/ct.
Subject to securing the necessary funding, Botswana Diamonds said it would target the start of its drilling programme during the Kalahari dry season from April to October next year.
“The receipt of environmental authorisation, following submission and approval of our environmental-impact assessment, in Botswana is significant. We believe further diamond discoveries will be made in Botswana, and we believe the Kalahari will be the next diamond province in Botswana.
“We own 100% of KX36 – a significant diamond discovery in the Kalahari, the sole kimberlite discovered in the area. But kimberlites come in clusters.
Our work to date and ongoing analysis has identified anomalies in the vicinity of KX36 and the closed Ghaghoo mine 60 km away. We now have the necessary approval to drill these targets,” Botswana Diamonds chairperson John Teeling commented.
