TIDMBOD
RNS Number : 0711I
Botswana Diamonds PLC
10 August 2021
10(th) August 2021
Botswana Diamonds PLC
("Botswana Diamonds" or the "Company")
Diamonds recovered from the River Kimberlite Extension at Thorny
River
Botswana Diamonds, the AIM and BSE listed diamond explorer, is
pleased to announce that four high-quality diamonds and abundant
kimberlitic indicators were recovered from drill samples at the
recently discovered River Kimberlite Extension at Thorny River in
the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Highlights
- Four diamonds of good colour and clarity
- Abundant diamond indicators including G10, G9 and eclogitic garnets
- The River Extension blow is contiguous with the diamondiferous River blow
- New drilling programme to begin by end August
As previously announced in May earlier this year, a total of 71
metres of kimberlite was intersected in 12 percussion holes in the
newly discovered River kimberlite extension in May 2021, with an
additional 19 metres of kimberlitic breccia. The widest kimberlite
down-the-hole intersection was 18 metres. The drilling programme
outlined a significant swell on the kimberlite dyke with a minimum
strike length of 75 metres. The River Extension blow is contiguous
with the diamondiferous River Blow which was discovered by the
company in November 2020.
Samples from these holes were taken at one metre intervals and
twelve of these totalling about 320kg were selected and submitted
to an independent processing facility for assessment through
screening, dense media separation and hand sorting. Four diamonds
of good colour, clarity and of commercial quality were recovered
along with extensive diamond indicators minerals.
A further percussion drilling programme to assess the area
between the River and River Extension will begin within a
month.
John Teeling, Chairman, commented: "The recovery of high-quality
diamonds and so many diamond indicators is very rare. The diamonds
are of good quality. It is unusual to recover diamonds from a small
sample of narrow reverse circulation drill holes so it bodes well
for the potential of the Thorny River project. Even more
encouraging is that the size of the kimberlite from which the
diamonds were recovered, is itself expanding. We will commence
drilling the area between the two blows towards the end of
August."
Details of sample analysis
4 diamonds, 211 G10 pyrope garnets, 219 G9 pyrope garnets, 226
eclogitic garnets, 215 chromites, 154 ilmenites and 172 chromium
diopsides (clinopyroxene) were recovered at sizes between
-1.0+0.3mm. Recoveries of a specific mineral types were capped at
20 grains and thus this picture is a snapshot of the overall rich
kimberlitic indicator content. Importantly, all the samples
contained abundant kimberlitic indicators. The diamonds are all
notably of good colour and clarity and are of commercial quality
and in high demand by the market. The diamonds were not weighed as
the sample size was small and they are not representative of a
possible population.
Pyrope garnets are common in peridotite xenoliths from
kimberlite pipes, some of which are diamond-bearing. Pyrope found
in association with diamond commonly has a Chromium Oxide content
of three to eight percent which imparts a distinctive violet to
deep purple colouration. These are called G10 and G9 pyrope
garnets. Eclogites typically result from high to ultrahigh pressure
metamorphism of mafic rocks at low thermal gradients as they were
subducted to the upper mantle in a subduction zone. Garnets found
in eclogitic xenoliths tend to have a deep orange colour. Diamonds
in kimberlite come from both peridotitic and eclogitic xenoliths so
the abundance of both types of garnet in this sample is noteworthy
and this is supported by the recovery of diamonds from a relatively
small drill sample.
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 35-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:
Botswana Diamonds PLC
John Teeling, Chairman +353 1 833 2833
James Campbell, Managing Director +27 83 457 3724
Jim Finn, Director +353 1 833 2833
Beaumont Cornish - Nominated Adviser
Michael Cornish
Roland Cornish +44 (0) 020 7628 3396
Beaumont Cornish Limited - Broker
Roland Cornish
Felicity Geidt +44 (0) 207 628 3396
First Equity Limited - Joint Broker
Jason Robertson +44 (0) 207 374 2212
Blytheweigh - PR +44 (0) 207 138 3206
Megan Ray +44 (0) 207 138 3553
Rachael Brooks +44 (0) 207 138 3206
Said Izagaren +44 (0) 207 138 3206
Naomi Holmes +44 (0) 207 138 3206
Teneo
Luke Hogg +353 (0) 1 661 4055
Alan Tyrrell +353 (0) 1 661 4055
Ross Murphy +353 (0) 1 661 4055
www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk
ENDS
Glossary
Mafic rock : A mafic mineral or rock is a silicate mineral or
igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron. Most mafic minerals are
dark in colour, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include
olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. Common mafic rocks
include basalt, diabase and gabbro
Pyrope garnet : Pyrope is the most well-known gemstone form of
Garnet. Its dark, blood-red colour is distinct and attractive, and
makes a fine Garnet gemstone. In the gem trade, the term Pyrope is
rarely used on its own. It is either generically called "Garnet",
or "Pyrope Garnet"
G9 and 10 garnets : Pyrope garnet found in association with
diamond commonly has a Chromium Oxide content of 3-8%, which
imparts a distinctive violet to deep purple colouration (often with
a greenish tinge) and because of this is often used as a kimberlite
indicator mineral in areas where erosive activity makes
pin-pointing the origin of the pipe difficult. These varieties are
known as chrome-pyrope, or G9/G10 garnets.
Eclogitic garnets : The typical eclogite mineral assemblage is
garnet (pyrope to almandine) plus clinopyroxene (omphacite).
Eclogites record pressures over 1.2 GPa (170,000 psi), 45 km (28
mi) depth at about 400 to 1,000 degC (752 to 1,832 degF) and
usually over 600-650 degC (1,112-1,202 degF).
GPa : A unit of pressure equal to 10(9) pascals.
Peridotitic xenolith : A xenolith is a piece of rock trapped in
another type of rock. Xenoliths and xenocrysts are often identified
by the names of the two rock types involved. A peridotite xenolith
in a basaltic lava flow, for instance, means a chunk of the rock
peridotite is embedded in basalt rock. The peridotite is usually
yellow and dense, while the basalt is usually grey and light.
Psi : Pounds per square inch (PSI) is a common unit of
pressure.
Subduction : Subduction is a geological process in which the
oceanic lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at
convergent boundaries. Where the oceanic lithosphere of a tectonic
plate converges with the less dense lithosphere of a second plate,
the heavier plate dives beneath the second plate and sinks into the
mantle.
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END
MSCGZGGRNLMGMZM
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August 10, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
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