Ore is mined using open pit mining methods from numerous small, localised alluvial gravel resources. Mining is carried out with open pit truck and shovel operations from the diamondiferous gravels after removal of overburden. The general method employed is strip mining. The paleo-channels and terraces which host the diamondiferous gravels vary in width and overburden depth and, as such are subject to varying degrees of continuity for active mining faces. Mining also encompasses rehandling and reprocessing of remnant tailings and stockpiled material. The mining fleet is consistent across these operations, with the exception of the dredging operations undertaken at Shallow Water.

A low cost mining approach is also bein followed on the Somiluana Mine in Angola and current mine plans are based on a feasibility study founded on analysis of historical Diamang data and six years of exploration and pilot production results to which appropriate planning, scheduling, and reserving methodologies have been applied that are typical for large scale alluvial mining operations in Angola.

Overburden at Somiluana comprises amorphous or silicified gravel and sand, with few or no rocks, and is easily excavated with general service excavator buckets with or without teeth. Explosives are not required. In some areas, sandier overburden requires a shallower batter angle of maximum 30° and reduced bench height. In other areas, more stable overburden with higher clay content will ........

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