Modern Mining January 2021

and the first production diamonds, Newfield has achieved several key project milestones since tak- ing control of the project. The first major milestone was the declaration of the 7,4-million carat dia- mond resource, of which 1,1-million carats has been declared as a probable reserve. Leading independent technical consultants, MPH Consulting and Z-Star, completed an updated mineral resource estimate for the Tongo mine in November 2018. The estimate was based on 10 792 m of detailed mine development drilling undertaken in 2018 and updated wireframe and geo- logical models based on recent and historical drilling data (75 000 m in total). The updated resource estimate totalled 7,4-million

over the coming months as development continues and more mining faces are opened. “We are very proud of this achievement of first production diamonds from the Tongo project,” says Smithson. “A key observation is that the excellent colour and clarity of these diamonds is consis- tent with diamonds previously recovered from the bulk sampling exercises of the Kundu and Lando kimberlites that are the target of our current mine development.” The occasion is the culmination of the investment in the Tongo project by Ne wfield since its acquisition of Stellar Diamonds in early 2018. “For our team and at a personal level, this achievement represents a career involvement of over 13 years in the discovery, feasibility and development of the Tongo project. While much work lies ahead of us, the first diamonds represent the beginning of an exciting journey ahead for Newfield,” adds Smithson. The project, however, has experienced about six months’ delay due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Travel and supply line restrictions, says Smithson, have slowed the pace of development but the company has managed to continue underground development throughout. “In a mine life of at least 18 years, a six-month delay is not considered to be too fatal,” says Smithson. Project milestones Apart from the 550 m underground development

The core team for the project has since been recruited.

Key project milestones  Declaration of 7,4-million carat diamond resource (of which 1,1-million carats has been declared as a probable reserve  Completion of FEED study  Underground mine design and schedule completed  100 tph processing plant design completed, partly procured and manufactured

 550 m of underground development  First production diamonds yielded

 Significant surface and underground infrastructure construction completed  Establishment of interim processing plant pending larger processing plant construction

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January 2021  MODERN MINING  19