Yetwene - project diamond
Research and Prospecting
After the prospecting work, it was possible to identify, with a great degree of precision, the reserves and resources present on both banks of the Chicapa and Lumanhe rivers. Reserves of 1,621,000 carats, resulting from prospecting carried out in only 17% of the concession, with a variable content of 0.26 carats/m3 and an average stone size that varies from 0.35 to 0.51, characterized by having more than 70% of diamonds of gem quality and varieties of shades (blues, pinks and yellows).
It can initially produce approximately 13,800 Qts/month, with the start-up of two treatment units in the first year corresponding to about 96,500 carats/year. With the start of a second work front (2nd year), we expect an annual recovery of approximately 290,000 carats.
The minimum sale price in the international market will be 350 USD.
It can initially produce approximately 13,800 Qts/month, with the start-up of two treatment units in the first year corresponding to about 96,500 carats/year. With the start of a second work front (2nd year), we expect an annual recovery of approximately 290,000 carats.
The minimum sale price in the international market will be 350 USD.
The “Project Yetwene” mine is part of the Chicapa watershed. This is one of the basins with the most significant diamond potential. It is economically viable since many known and promising kimberlite bodies can be found in this area. They are well documented and identified along the Chicapa River, such as the Camachico and Camatchia entry lines in the Luo concession and the large Camafuca - Camazambo kimberlite complex about 30 km south of the Yetwene concession. It is a fact that high-value diamond stones, coloured and of various shapes, are associated with the primary and secondary deposits of the Chicapa river drainage system.
Mining exploration and prospecting
Concession area
Mining works
Within the scope of the geological-mining research study, carried out for two years, to determine the feasibility of the project, as well as the fulfilment of the objectives of the prospecting phase, which involved an area of 17% of the concession, a total investment of USD 6 000 000 was made.
Studies carried out by the company Xcallibur, give us a forecast of the mine's useful life of 10 to 20 years, with a potential of 5,000,000 Qts.
It should be noted that the most critical point of the Yetwene concession is that most of the concession's contract area is virgin, so its economic potential is not known. In the short term, the "Project Yetwene" will implement an aggressive and systematic exploration plan to identify and assimilate more efficiently the reserves and additional resources in the northern area of the concession, known as Chicapa Norte.
These parameters are within perfectly acceptable economic limits and demonstrate that the deposits now being prospected are economically viable. It is important to note that there is no evidence of prospecting activity outside the Lumanche-Chicapa Sul area at any time in the history of prospecting and production activities in the Yetwene concession. This fact considerably influences the potential of existing reserves.
Studies carried out by the company Xcallibur, give us a forecast of the mine's useful life of 10 to 20 years, with a potential of 5,000,000 Qts.
It should be noted that the most critical point of the Yetwene concession is that most of the concession's contract area is virgin, so its economic potential is not known. In the short term, the "Project Yetwene" will implement an aggressive and systematic exploration plan to identify and assimilate more efficiently the reserves and additional resources in the northern area of the concession, known as Chicapa Norte.
These parameters are within perfectly acceptable economic limits and demonstrate that the deposits now being prospected are economically viable. It is important to note that there is no evidence of prospecting activity outside the Lumanche-Chicapa Sul area at any time in the history of prospecting and production activities in the Yetwene concession. This fact considerably influences the potential of existing reserves.
Backhoe
Dump truck
Yetwene - project diamond
Exploration
Following the geological characteristics of the Yetwene Project area, the Exploration Department opted for the open pit exploration method, with a parameter of cut widths between 12 and 15 meters and a minimum length of 100 meters. Remove and lowering works will always be carried out in parallel with the cuts already extracted to allow the restoration of the ecosystem in the degraded area.
An investment of around 14,000,000.00 (fourteen million US dollars) was made in equipment for exploration and 2,500,000.00 (two million, five hundred thousand US dollars) for the recovery of degraded areas in a 5-year horizon.
To reach the monthly production target of 13,800 carats foreseen for the first year, an average extraction of 55,200 m3 of ore will occur, and 276,000 m3 of waste will be removed. The loading operation will be carried out by backhoe loaders, emphasising the 3.1 m3 CAT 349D, 4.6 m3 CAT 390D and 4 m3 CAT 966 wheel loaders. The transport will be carried out by the fleet made up of 23 m3 CAT 740B trucks, and the extra works are carried out by various equipment, among which we highlight the CAT D7R, CAT D8R, CAT D9R tractors and the CAT 14H motor grader.
An investment of around 14,000,000.00 (fourteen million US dollars) was made in equipment for exploration and 2,500,000.00 (two million, five hundred thousand US dollars) for the recovery of degraded areas in a 5-year horizon.
To reach the monthly production target of 13,800 carats foreseen for the first year, an average extraction of 55,200 m3 of ore will occur, and 276,000 m3 of waste will be removed. The loading operation will be carried out by backhoe loaders, emphasising the 3.1 m3 CAT 349D, 4.6 m3 CAT 390D and 4 m3 CAT 966 wheel loaders. The transport will be carried out by the fleet made up of 23 m3 CAT 740B trucks, and the extra works are carried out by various equipment, among which we highlight the CAT D7R, CAT D8R, CAT D9R tractors and the CAT 14H motor grader.
Partners
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