Botswana Diamonds Publishes Alrosa Venture Exploration Results

(IDEX Online News) – Botswana Diamonds plc has announced the first results of its joint venture exploration program on PL117/2011 in the Orapa region of Botswana. 

The joint venture company, Sunland Minerals, is jointly owned by Botswana Diamonds and Alrosa.

In the first phase of analysis by Alrosa, on behalf of Sunland Minerals, of data collected on PL117 in Orapa two specific targets AN117/1 and AN117/2 have been identified in the northern part of the block.

The Alrosa technology identified the targets as having high potential to be new kimberlite discoveries.

The AN117/2 site, which has been identified using geophysical data, is scheduled to be drilled in September of this year.

Meanwhile, the AN117/1 site, identified by mineralogical analysis, will be further defined by a 300x300m Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM) survey, with a view that it will be progressed towards drilling.

Three further anomalies, AN1, AN2 and AN4, need further work to define drill targets, the miner said in a statement.

"The new targets are different from the already known AK10 kimberlite in that they do not have a wide near surface expression as the kimberlites may not have blown their way to surface through the overlaying rocks."

Chairman John Teeling commented; “We have identified a number of new targets on PL117 which are in an area known to be prospective for diamond bearing kimberlites.  One, AN117/2 will be drilled in September this year while at the same time further work will be undertaken to identify the exact drill site for AN117/1. Three further anomalies have been identified which are highly promising and will be defined in the coming months.

“This is what we hoped from the collaboration with Alrosa. New eyes, new ideas and new techniques bringing a fresh approach to exploring the best diamond region in the world.”