Kimberlite Intersection from Marsfontein Drilling

Botswana Diamonds PLC

("Botswana Diamonds" or the "Company")

Thick kimberlite intersection from drilling campaign on Marsfontein

Botswana Diamonds ('BOD'), the AIM and BSE listed diamond explorer is pleased to announce the preliminary results of the next phase of its drilling campaign on the Marsfontein project.  The objective of this limited exercise was to test an historical anomaly identified as M17 to see if it had the potential to be a blow (or enlargement) on the M8 kimberlite dyke.

Two down-the-hole hammer percussion holes were drilled at depths of 67m (Hole ID M17H001) and 61m (Hole ID M17H002).  4m of kimberlite was interested from 54-58m in Hole ID M17H001 which is one of the thickest intersections of kimberlite discovered in the Marsfontein - Thorny River project area, aside from the Marsfontein M1 pipe and thus warrants detailed ground geophysics in the area to position accurately further drill holes thus delineating the kimberlite blow.  No kimberlite was identified in Hole ID M17H002.

The kimberlite cluster of Thorny River - Marsfontein - Klipspringer Mine has proved consistent in terms of its high-grade and diamond assortment which contains a relative abundance of coloured stones. Aside from the Klipspringer (kimberlite dyke) mine, the most economic zones have been the blows, being the Sugarbird, Kudu and the Marsfontein mine.  The purpose of the current exploration programme is to find more of these blows at Marsfontein.

Detailed ground geophysics, particularly ground electromagnetics which has been successfully used on Thorny River, is already in the advanced planning stage to continue the next phase of drilling on the kimberlite blow.  This programme will also extend to other potential kimberlite blows in the Marsfontein - Thorny River project area.  These activities are planned for the next quarter.

This release has been approved by James Campbell, Managing Director of Botswana Diamonds plc, a qualified geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat), a Member of the Geological Society of South Africa, a Fellow of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Metals and Mining (UK) and with over 34-years' experience in the diamond sector. 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014. The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was James Campbell, Director

A copy of this announcement is available on the Company's website, at www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk

Enquiries:

www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk

Glossary

Kimberlite: an igneous rock, typically formed under high pressure and temperature, which sometimes contains diamonds.

Down-the-hole hammer percussion drilling:  With down-the-hole hammer drilling, the drill principle consists of a combination of percussion and rotation. Unlike the top hammer, here the hammer drill is located directly in the borehole. These devices, known as 'down-the-hole hammers', are connected to the rotating drill pipes.  The down-the-hole hammer is driven directly by the flushing medium. Compressed air is usually used for this purpose. Special procedures, though, can also involve flushing with water. The flushing medium is pressed through the drill pipes, down-the-hole hammer and drill bit and is forced back out at the mouth of the borehole, along with the loosened drill cuttings, through the annular gap between the drill pipes and the borehole wall.