Assays of a bulk sample taken from the M-1 kimberlite pipe on the Marsfontein farm at the Klipspringer project in South Africa have confirmed earlier grade estimates, reports SouthernEra Resources (SUF-T).
SouthernEra, the project operator, holds a 65% interest in Marsfontein, with the remainder held by South African major Randgold.
The indicated grade is 335 carats per 100 tonnes. Valuations have been completed on a 441-carat parcel of M-1 diamonds by three independent, Antwerp-based diamantaires. The average of the three values is US$142.58, with the individual values for the parcel ranging from US$131.76 to US$156.29 per carat.
The sample material, comprising 144.6 dry tonnes of the M-1 kimberlite, has been processed, from which 484 carats have been recovered for an average grade of 335 carats per 100 tonnes. The average size of the diamonds recovered is 0.32 carat. Ninety-seven diamonds larger than 1 carat were recovered, and 26 of these are larger than 2 carats.
The bulk sample material was recovered from 95 percussion and reverse-circulation drill holes, completed to depths of 10 to 165 metres, collared across the surface expression of the kimberlite.
About 8.65 tonnes of the total sample represents kimberlite recovered from deeper drill holes (depths of 40 to 165 metres), and this material was processed separately. Diamonds weighing 32.4 carats were recovered from this sample, for a grade of 375 carats per 100 tonnes.
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