Introduction
DiamondTech provides the operational processing and sorting technology for mineral rights holders or existing mines in profit share arrangements. Testing by Venmyn proved that recoveries of diamonds are significantly higher and more efficient that other methods of sorting. Commercially DiamondTech enters into strategic partnerships with mine operators and the holders of minerals rights to unlock the benefits of operationally superior diamond sorting.
This commercial model holds benefits for both the operators and DiamondTech:
- No large capital outlay to obtain access to mineral reserves other than the cost of manufacturing of the LRU systems and process
- Potentially higher diamond yields in a shorter time due to inherent effeciencies
- Limited exploration capital investment and less need to finance licence acquisition
- LRUs are mobile and can be moved from one lucrative location to another promising prospect
Grasfontein is the first mining site that reaped the benefit of the DiamondTech LRU diamond sorting system. The Grasfontein project bears testimony to the innovation and operational benefits of the DiamondTech LRU sorting system. The mine is located near Lichtenburg in the Northwest province of South Arica. The unique geology of the area poses its own challenges but with the LRU system, profitable mining is possible due to the higher and more efficient sorting methodology. The DiamondTech LRU system allows the mining operation to process and exploit four prospective sources of ore at Grasfontein:
- Existing mining of excavated but untreated pothole gravel from recent mining operations (skeat mining)
- Gravel runs mined to a depth of 2m or more (run mining)
- Tailings overlaying and adjacent to the diamond runs (diggers' debris)
- Un-mined potholes on the property (pothole mining)