A 9-hole drill program by Trivalence Mining (TMI-V) will test the largest kimberlite pipe identified to date on the Aredor concession in Guinea, West Africa.
The Antoshka pipe was first identified by Russian geologists in the 1960s.
Subsequent sampling by the Russians and others yielded diamonds.
Trivalence’s program will involve testing the lateral and depth extensions of this pipe and obtaining a 5-tonne sample for processing and analysis in Canada.
On the operations front, the company reported that its dual 8-ft. pan plant at Aredor processed 262,473 tonnes of alluvial material last year, yielding 13,567 diamonds weighing 16,570.24 carats. This represents a 420% increased over 1996 production.
Of this production, 527 stones weighed more than 5 carats and the total weight of these larger diamonds was 4,499.12 carats, representing 27% of production.
Trivalence also operates a 14-ft. tailings plant at Aredor, which processed 27,633 tonnes of tailings last year. The operation yielded 539 diamonds weighing a combined 444.39 carats, including one 70.1-carat gem-quality diamond.
Four diamond sales were conducted in 1997, at which Trivalence sold a total of 12,692.76 carats for US$8.49 million (including US$2.7 million for the 70.1-carat gem).
A commercial-scale plant is now on site at Aredor. The plant is completing trial runs, and some technical modifications are being carried out to improve its operating efficiency.
Trivalence holds a 59.9% stake in the Aredor diamond project.
Be the first to comment on "DIAMOND NEWS ROUNDUP — Trivalence boosts production"