Modern Mining November 2018

MINING News

Contractor appointed for bulk sampling at Thorny River

carat respectively over the estimated volume of 1,2 to 2,1 Mt of kimberlite to a depth of 100 m). Assuming optimum kimberlite processing, the annual benefits of the con- tract over the three to six year mine life of Thorny River could potentially be between US$2 to US$7 million annually. Regulatory approvals from the South African Department of Mineral Resources have been applied for. An advance in-fill drilling programme will allow detailed planning prior to commencing bulk sampling and the revenue and information from this proj- ect will enable the company to consider further long-term options for Thorny River and the surrounding kimberlite field. Comments John Teeling,

This photo of the Thorny River site was taken in November 2017 during initial bulk sampling (photo: Botswana Diamonds).

In terms of the contract, a net revenue royalty of 12 % will accrue to Vutomi; 8 % will accrue toVutomi to cover state mineral royalties, sales and security expenses; and 80 % will accrue to Palaeo to cover its min- ing and processing costs. A processing target of up to 30 000 tons of kimberlite per month has been set and diamonds will be recovered using a pro- cessing facility at a nearby diamond mine. Modelled diamond grades and value ranges were reported in February 2018 (46‑74 cpht and US$120 to US$220 per highly prospective Lafigué target, with the drill results published in September this year. The maiden Lafigué resource estimate encompasses approximately two-thirds of the total mineralised area defined to date which extends over an area 2,5 km long by 0,6 km wide. The mineralisation remains open at depth and towards the south-east. A 45 000-m drill programme has com- menced and will continue into 2019, with a focus on the Lafigué target and testing new targets. An updated resource estimate is expected to be published in late 2019. “I would like to congratulate our explo- ration team for achieving this important

Following the release of a Technical and Economic Evaluation Report on Thorny River in June 2018, AIM-listed Botswana Diamonds and its partner Vutomi have been considering a number of options to advance the property. This process has concluded with Botswana Diamonds signing a contract with Palaeo Minerals to provide bulk sam- pling and potentially mining services to the project. Palaeo is an experienced min- ing contractor which has several mining contracts in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Chairman of Botswana Diamonds: “We are confident that Thorny River could be the first diamond producing project for Botswana Diamonds. A royalty bulk sam- pling/mining model means that we have no capital expenditure apart from a limited in-fill drilling programme in early 2019. We anticipate the award of the necessary regulatory approvals in anticipation of rev- enue being generated during the course of 2019. I look forward to providing share- holders with further updates regarding Thorny River in due course.”  milestone,” said Sébastien de Montessus, President and CEO of Endeavour. “This maiden resource brings us one step closer to attaining our strategic objective of iden- tifying a new project as part of our five-year exploration strategy set in late 2016. “While we have one of the largest explo- ration tenements in West Africa, our key strength has been the team’s ability to pri- oritise and rank top prospective targets to focus our efforts on those which have the best potential to one day become strate- gic long-life, low-cost mines within our portfolio.” Fetekro is located in north-central Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 500 km from Abidjan, within the northern-end of the Oumé-Fetekro greenstone belt. 

Endeavour announces maiden resource for Lafigué Endeavour Mining, listed on the TSX, has announced a maiden resource estimate on the Lafigué target, located within the Ivorian Fetekro greenfield exploration property, and the identification of 14 addi- tional nearby targets.

The estimate comprises an indicated resource of 6,8 Mt at 2,25 g/t Au for 494 koz; and an inferred resource of 3,0Mt at 2,25 g/t Au for 225 koz. Endeavour began exploration on the Fetekro property in March 2017, following a strategic assessment of its exploration ten- ements which ranked the property as a top priority target. Since then, nearly 32 000 m have been drilled, mainly focused on the

14  MODERN MINING  November 2018