Modern Mining October 2019

MINING News

De Beers hosted the Young Diamantaires Group of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) at its Venetia mine in Limpopo at the beginning of September. The Young Diamantaires are an informal group of 250 individuals in the diamond and jewellery industry, founded by Rami Baron together with WFDB President, Ernie Blom. The purpose of the Young Diamantaires initiative is to stimulate a worldwide conversation with young dia- mantaires under the age of 45 on how to positively influence the diamond industry. Young diamantaires visit Venetia diamond mine According to Frank Auger, De Beers Beneficiation Manager, De Beers Group facilitated the tour to showcase what a responsible, ethical and 21st century dia- mond mine looks like, as well as how the company is helping communities to access opportunities and thrive. The 25 visitors were a diverse group from eight differ- ent countries, namely Australia, Belgium, Germany, Israel, India, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. A highlight from the trip was the visit to the Renaissance Secondary School

in Musina, one of 19 schools that De Beers Group has helped to build in the labour-sending areas of Musina and Blouberg through its School Infrastructure Development Programme with the Department of Education. At Venetia, the visitors were given a tour of both the open-pit and underground opera- tions. The Venetia Underground Project remains the largest investment spend for both De Beers Group and Anglo American in South Africa. The project is entering its sixth year of development and is on track to deliver its first diamonds in 2021. Once completed, it will extend the life of mine to 2046. 

The Young Diamantaires Group at Venetia. The headgears of the Venetia Underground Project are visible in the background.

rich titanium-dominated mineral sands con- tent,” he said. “These initial results from Sakura pave the way for further growth in the resource and reaffirm its development potential.” The Tajiri deposits are situated in north- ern Tanzania near the port city of Tanga, some 35 km to the north. The 100 %-owned tenements comprise a series of higher- grade mineral sand deposits along a 30 km mineralised corridor. Mineralisation at Tajiri starts at surface, with no overburden, and contains large coherent higher-grade domains compris- ing mostly high-value titanium-dominated mineral assemblage, with elevated zones of zircon and occasionally almandine garnet. 

Strandline reports “significant” discovery at Sakura Strandline Resources, listed on the ASX, has reported a significant mineral sands discov- ery at its newly granted Sakura tenement, which forms part of its Tajiri mineral sands project in Tanzania. The discovery is situ- ated some 10 km along strike from Tajiri. The Sakura deposit shows the potential to materially expand the Tajiri resources, which currently stand at 268 Mt at 3,3 % Total Heavy Minerals (THM), containing 8,8 Mt of in-situ valuable heavy minerals. The maiden drilling campaign com- menced in August 2019 with a final drill density of 200 m centres on 400 m spaced lines over 5 km of strike. Drill samples

were logged in the field based on visual estimates, showing widespread titanium- dominated mineralisation from surface to depths of 6 to 7 m, similar to that seen at other zones within Tajiri. Strandline is now in the process of export- ing samples for laboratory testing, which will be followed by mineral assemblage review and potential mineral resource estimation. Strandline Managing Director Luke Graham said the Sakura discovery had strong potential to underpin a substantial increase in the already-large resource base at Tajiri. “Tajiri is a world-class deposit with a

8  MODERN MINING  October 2019