De Beers Places Jagersfontein Diamond Property on the Market

De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd (DBCM) on Thursday announced its intention to sell its Jagersfontein Diamond Property in the Free State in South Africa. According to DBCM, the mine was operated from 1870 to 1971 and produced a tailing mineral resource of just over 13 million tons at an average grade of 12.8 carats per hundred tonnes.

DBCM invites expressions of interest from mining companies, saying it is offering Jagersfontein because the “asset does not align to the company’s future strategy.” It highlights the mine’s historical significance, citing Jagersfontein as the source of some of the world’s largest diamonds, notably the 995.20 carats Excelsior discovered in 1893 which was the world’s largest rough diamond until the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond.

DBCM will advertise its request that mining companies express their interest with an ‘expressions of interest’ (EOI) later this month.