Diamond Fields cranks up production

Marine diamond miner Diamond Fields International (DFI-T) has added a second mining vessel to its Luderitz Blue Bay grant off the coast of Namibia.

The M.V. Lady S will augment production from the M.V. Anya, which began re-mining the Marshall Fork feature in early December. The new vessel also sports pebble-jetting technology, but only one 24-inch airlift system, compared with Anya’s two.

Both vessels are operated by the same contractor.

The addition follows the recovery of 4,700 carats by the Anya, of which 3,532 carats were sold in Antwerp for an average of US$132.52 per carat. That’s less than the average US$139 per carat realized on May 2001-July 2002 production of some 54,503 carats.

Diamond Fields’ main concession covers more 70 km of coastal waters between Hottentot Point to the north and Diaz Point to the south, centred at Luderitz. Within that area are the diamondiferous Marshall Fork, Diaz Reef and Conical Beach features.