Less stripping will mean higher production at less cost on BM Diamondcorp‘s (BDI-V) Cempaka property, 45 km from the coastal city of Banjarmasin, southeastern Kalimantan.
The 39 sq. km property was set to commence production in the first quarter of this year, but the company has discovered diamondiferous gravels in an area requiring a lot less stripping than that which was laid out in the mine plan. So, production has been delayed, but in this case, that is a good turn of events.
Detailed in-fill drilling was performed at 25-metre hole spacing and 50-metre line spacing. This resulted in a resource that it is estimated will take a year to mine, with a strip ratio of 4.5:1. Previously the average strip-ratio for the property was determined to be 7:1.
A new pit plan is being prepared and production is expected to begin shortly, upon cessation of the rainy season.
Drilling has recovered several gem quality diamonds, up to 0.15 carats in size. Production is planned at a rate of 4,000 carats of gems per month, with an anticipated value of US$175 per carat.
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