Modern Mining Marchh 2017

DIAMONDS

Crushing/screening circuit fully operational

B lueRock Diamonds, the AIM-listed dia- mond mining company which owns and operates the Kareevlei mine located approximately 100 km north-west of Kimber- ley in the Northern Cape, reports that its new crushing and screening circuit is now fully op- erational, has been tested under full load and is performing well. The company says it now has the capacity to produce sufficient material to supply the processing plant and also create a stockpile for nightshift operations. “This significantly aids our ability to meet production targets as well as reducing running costs per tonne,” says the company. It adds that 24-hour production successfully began on 8 March and that target tonnages appear well within reach. BlueRock also reports that the extreme wet weather experienced during the first 10 weeks of 2017 is abating. The diamondiferous kimber- lite rock being processed is still higher in water content than normal but is treatable and being fed at approximately 80 % of optimal rates. The company says the new management

in place since mid-2016 has been looking for new opportunities for BlueRock and, with the operation at Kareevlei now progressing towards target levels of production, is starting to evalu- ate some of these prospects with a focus on diamond deposits. “The profile of diamond producers has become extremely polarised in the last five years at the very large and very small end of the spectrum,” the company states. “BlueRock’s management sees an opportunity in the market to take on attractive, known diamond deposits too small for the larger players and out of reach of the small operators.” 

The Kareevlei site showing the processing plant. This photo was taken prior to the recent upgrades.

March 2017  MODERN MINING  33