Block J reveals more gems (February 07, 2002)

A recent independent sampling program has recovered 4.65 carats of diamonds from the Block J marine concession in Namibia, which is a joint venture between Afri-Can Marine Minerals (AFA-V) and Woduna Mining Holding.

De Beers Marine, a unit of De Beers Consolidated Mines, extracted 338 samples from 29 sites spread over 728 sq. metres of ocean floor. Each sample represents 2.1 sq. metres of sediments, and two of the samples yielded more than two diamonds.

A total of 23 stones were recovered, of which the largest weighs 0.64 carat. Fourteen of them, which each weigh more than 0.30 carat, were collected from Features 6 and 8.

Feature 6 sits on the inner shelf, on which most of the marine mining takes place in coastal Namibian waters, whereas Feature 8 is further out to sea. Namdeb, a joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government, is the only company that operates in the deeper waters.

Block J covers roughly 1,000 sq. km of seafloor, in water depths ranging from 78 to 167 metres. The concession lies nearby properties owned by Namibian Minerals (NMR-T).