Recent sampling by Southern Africa Minerals (SAF-T) points to the existence of a new kimberlite field on its Mosomane properties, in southeastern Botswana.
The Mosomane licences straddle a northeast-trending crustal lineament, along which the Jwaneng and Venetia mines, two significant diamond producers, are situated.
The company examined heavy-mineral concentrates from geochemical grid sampling completed in late 1997, and found that 20% of the 7,000 samples contained diamond indicator minerals. Among the indicator minerals were more than 100 kimberlitic ilmenite grains.
An independent consultant notes that some of the grains appear fresh and unabraded; he interprets them to have originated in one or more kimberlite intrusives, on or near Southern Africa Minerals’ licences.
Detailed geochemical sampling is in progress, and a helicopter survey has been contracted out. Southern Africa Minerals expects to be in a position to drill several targets this spring.
The company also holds rights to an additional 2.5 million acres in southwest Botswana, where a number of kimberlite targets remain untested.
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