Covid-19 makes planning H2 very difficult
Botswana Diamonds (BOD), the diamond explorer, continues to develop its portfolio of eight exploration projects in three sub Saharan countries, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The projects in this highly prospective diamond region include Greenfield exploration in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana to the development of diamondiferous kimberlites in South Africa and a JV in Marange, Zimbabwe.
Botswana:
Sunland Minerals (100% BOD) has undertaken heavy mineral sampling and detailed geophysics in five of our licences in the Kalahari. An analysis of the results identified eight high grade targets. Environmental assessment work is being undertaken on three of these targets. This is a requirement to obtain drilling permits. Current plans call for drilling in the second half of 2020.
BOD has applied for and expects the imminent award of some additional licences in the Kalahari.
The Maibwe joint venture (BOD 15%) has been subject to significant delays due in large part to the liquidation of the main partner, BCL. BCL was a state-owned copper producer providing many thousands of jobs in Botswana. A new liquidator has been appointed and proposals are circulating which would lead to a resumption of work on the four licences where drilling discovered high diamond grade kimberlites.
South Africa:
Drilling on the Marsfontein ground intersected kimberlite. The concession is contiguous to the former Marsfontein mine. A significant bulk sample of the kimberlitic ground has been recovered and transported for analysis. It will be processed in the coming weeks.
Exploration continues on Thorny River which is adjacent to Marsfontein. Drilling in early 2020 did not intersect kimberlite. The site locations were selected using the latest state of the art technology. The data is being analysed and the techniques recalibrated to select the next tranche of drill sites. The targets are kimberlite pipes covered by a dolerite layer.
The company holds prospective ground in Palmietget, Mooikloof and the Free State. The ground contains diamondiferous kimberlite pipes. Given the ongoing focus on the Marsfontein and Thorny River concession only limited work is being undertaken at present.
Zimbabwe:
BOD has been interested in the diamond potential of Zimbabwe several years. Significant early stage work has been undertaken to identify opportunities.
The prolific Marange diamond field is a target. BOD has a joint venture agreement with Vast Resources on a specific concession in the Marange field. The award of the licence has been imminent for a period of time. The award will pave the way for rapid exploration which will include trial mining.
Apart from Marange, BOD has continued to examine other brownfield kimberlite opportunities.
Corporate:
The company raised £250,000 in early 2020 to fund exploration and for general working capital purposes.
The current global uncertainty as a result of the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 makes planning very difficult. No one knows how long the pandemic will last, the real impact on global diamond markets and the financial system generally.
A National Disaster in respect of Covid-19 has been declared in South Africa and this will impact the scheduling of our activities in South Africa and particularly the Marsfontein project in the coming weeks. However, our operations are flexible, and we plan to return to planned activity levels in due course as and when conditions allow.
Key: diamond mining, rough diamond, diamond exploration
