Kimberley Diamonds to Start Mining at E9 West Pit After Wet Season
February 10, 14
(IDEX Online News) – Kimberley Diamonds said it is to start mining at the E9 West Pit of its Ellendale mine in Western Australia "as soon as practicable after the end of the wet season, allowing access to higher grade ore".
Mining operations at E9 were put on hold as of June 2013 due to slippage of the pit wall. However, the company completed the construction of a buttress in November to enable safe access to the pit.
Work at the E9 pit is on lower grade surface ore stockpiles with a resource grade of 2.48 carats per hundred tonnes, while the E9 west pit has a resource grade of 3.49 carats per hundred tonnes.
The company also reported that it has received the consent of the Botswana Competition Authority for the acquisition of Mantle Diamonds Ltd. and its Lerala diamond mine.