Botswana Diamonds PLC
("Botswana Diamonds" or the "Company")
Diamond grade estimated to be between 20-270 cpht at Frischgewaagt, South Africa
Botswana Diamonds, the AIM and BSE listed explorer (AIM:BOD), is pleased to announce that 223 microdiamonds have been recovered from 160kg of kimberlite drill core from the Frischgewaagt Project, located in South Africa.
These results, which are presented in full below, were modelled to an estimated grade range of 20 to 270 carats per hundred tons ("cpht") at a bottom cut off of 0.6 mm, with the largest stone being a white transparent crystal diamond falling in the -1.18+0.85 mm sieve. The modelling took cognisance of the results from the earlier bulk processing of surface and near surface material. The wide range in the estimated grade reflects the small sample size.
The kimberlite concentrate was recovered from the nine core holes drilled on Frischgewaagt where both magmatic kimberlite (associated with dykes) and volcanoclastic (associated with pipes) were recently discovered.
The MSA Group in Johannesburg undertook the microdiamonds analyses and the modelling was undertaken by Dr JJ Ferreira, a world renowned expert in micro diamond assessment.
40 km of detailed ground based geophysics is nearing completion on both Frischgewaagt and the adjoining properties with a second drill programme planned to commence next month.
Frischgewaagt is on a 6km kimberlite dyke/pipe complex averaging 1.34 m in width. The project is also 2km along strike from the nearby Marsfontein Mine which was 0.4 hectares in size producing at an average grade of 172 cpht at a bottom cut off of 1.2 mm. Marsfontein achieved a payback of capital in under 4 days.
John Teeling, Chairman commented, "This is an excellent result and shows the potential of Frischgewaagt. We need more drill samples to refine the grade estimate. This will be done in the coming months. Earlier work indicated diamond values of over US$200/ct. The geophysics work which is almost complete and the drilling to follow is targeted to produce an Inferred Resource by the end of the year."
Link to Figure 1: Microdiamond Results
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/9529H_-2017-6-13.pdf
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.
This release has been approved by James Campbell, Managing Director of Botswana Diamonds plc, a qualified geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat), a Fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a Fellow of Materials, Metals and Mining with over 31-years' experience in the diamond sector.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Botswana Diamonds PLC |
|
John Teeling, Chairman |
+353 1 833 2833 |
James Campbell, Managing Director |
+27 83 457 3724 |
Jim Finn, Director |
|
Northland Capital Partners Limited |
|
David Hignell/Gerry Beaney (Corporate Finance) |
+44 (0) 203 861 6625 |
John Howes (Broking) |
|
Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers Limited |
|
Jason Robertson |
+44 (0) 203 903 7725 |
Blytheweigh |
+44 (0) 207 138 3204 |
Camilla Horsfall |
+44 (0) 781 784 1793 |
Nick Elwes |
+44 (0) 783 185 1855 |
Teneo PSG |
|
Ciaran Flynn |
+353 (0) 1 661 4055 |
Alan Tyrrell |
+353 (0) 1 661 4055 |
www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk
