BHP Billiton’s Ekati Produced 0.98 Million Carats in Last Quarter
October 21, 09
BHP Billiton reported a 14 percent decrease in diamond production in the September ending quarter versus the June quarter. This was mainly due to lower ore processed, the company said in a quarterly production report.
The miner produced 780,000 carats of diamonds during the quarter, and while it declined quarter-over-quarter, compared to the September 2008 quarter production rose 1 percent.
It added that the 80 percent owned Ekati diamond mine continues to be influenced by variability of ore sources due to the mix of open pit and underground mining.
Ekati’s total quarterly production totaled 975,000 carats. Its production grade stood at 1.57 carats per tonne (cpt).