Modern Mining May 2016

MINING News

Aveng companies busy at Lethlakane the second oldest – it was opened in the mid-1970s – of Debswana’s four diamond operations. The mine is approaching the end of its life in terms of its economically

viable open-pit resources but the LMTRTP will ensure that it continues to operate for at least another 20 years, producing up to 800 000 carats a year from the treatment of tailings through the use of new and improved recovery technologies. 

AvengGrinaker-LTA’sMechanical & Electrical Engineering division, working in partner- ship with Aveng Botswana, was selected as the preferred Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) contractor for the Letlhakane Mine Tailings ResourceTreatment Plant (LMTRTP) project. The scope of work includes the supply and installation of electrical and instrumentation equipment at the Debswana mine. The contract commenced on 25 September 2015 and is expected to complete by December 2016. “We were up against some fierce com- petition and being awarded this contract was a great achievement. Aveng Grinaker- LTA, together with Aveng Botswana, has the expertise and the capability to successfully execute this project to the highest standard and in accordance with client specifica- tions,” says Shawn Shanahan, Operations Manager for Aveng Grinaker-LTA. The Letlhakane mine is situated approximately 50 km from the Orapa mine and 220 km east of Francistown and is

Walkabout applies for Namibian licences Perth-based, African-focused energy miner- als developer Walkabout Resources, which is listed on the ASX, has filed applications for three Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) in a known lithium-spodumene set- ting 120 km north of Walvis Bay in Namibia. The Cape Cross-Uis pegmatites are in a north-east trending zone up to 120 km long and 25 km wide. The company’s ten- ure applications of approximately 304 km 2 lie 40 km to the north-east of the coastal town of Henties Bay in the Erongo Region. Pegmatites up to 120 m in length and 40 m wide outcrop at surface within the Strathmore swarm and have been mined intermittently for Sn-Nb-Ta and Li-Be but the area has not been subjected

to modern exploration for lithium. Allan Mulligan, Managing Director of Walkabout Resources, commented, “This historic pegmatite and tin mining area has a long history of localised, opportunistic mining. Lithium, while present, has never previously been the focus of exploration and we believe much can be achieved through the introduction of a fresh explora- tion approach targeting these lithium and pegmatite ranges. Much of the unexplored potential may be located under shallow cover. One site in particular has also been identified as a potential lithium brine site. This consolidates our plan to further diver- sify into the fast developing supply chain for lithium ion batteries.” 

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May 2016  MODERN MINING  13