The geological environment at Jwaneng Mine in Botswana is characterized by a complex faulting system that preceded the emplacement of kimberlite into the Transvaal sedimentary sequence.

Jwaneng mine is located in a region that forms part of the semi arid eastern Kalahari Desert in south – central Botswana with most of the area being covered by thick (50 to 80m) superficial deposits.

The Jwaneng D/K2 kimberlite was emplaced as part of a cluster of 11 other kimberlites, with late Permian (280–225 Ma) emplacement ages. The country rock geology of Jwaneng mine is sub-divided into three major packages: Archaean basement; the Transvaal Supergroup, which can be sub-divided into local equivalents of the Pretoria Group sediments, unconformably underlain by the Malmani Dolomite; and a 55–60 m cover of sand and calcrete of the Kalahari Group. The pipes have been emplaced on deep-seated faults, which have in the past also acted as conduits for the emplacement of post-Transvaal-age diabase dykes. The basement in the region is dominated by Archaean amphibolitebearing granite-gneiss and tonalite.

The mine exploits the diamond-bearing kimberlite complex consisting of three main pipes known as the D/K2 kimberlite. D/K2 is a monogenetic trilobate kimberlite complex that coalesced at surface, forming a 54 ha footprint at the preKalahari erosional surface. It consists of several texturally distinct phases of kimberlite, which range from volcaniclastic kimberlit ........

Jwaneng is an open pit mine, using traditional truck and shovel methods.

Currently Jwaneng is mining at a depth of 452 metres and is expected to reach 816 metres by 2034.

Jwaneng Mine Pit:
• 1.4km width
• 2km length
• ˜410m deep.

Jwaneng Mine, the world richest mine by value, owned and operated by Debswana will continue to anchor both Debswana and De Beers revenue, following investment in key projects; the Cut 9 project and underground project.

In the first half of 2017, Cut-8 delivered its first ore for Jwaneng, catapulting the mine to ‘super-pit’ status. The cut 8 will come to an end in 2029, according to Debswana, paving way for mining of ore to begin at Cut-9.

Debswana, a 50-50 De Beers- Botswana Government joint venture has invested over P15 billion to catapult the mine life to 2035 with the Cut 9 project.

Cut 9, is currently transitioning from outsourced contractor to in-house operation. Naledi Mining Services is a 100 % owned subsidiary of Debswana. Naledi Mining Services which will undertake the Jwaneng Cut 9 project from January 2023 and provide mining operations skills; these are machine operators, truck operators, shovel operators, supervisors, as well as earth moving equipment repairs and maintenance. Naledi will initially have an employee population of about 750 people, with an annual turnover of P300 million.

Cut-9 project, which commenced in 2019 will reach its bott ........

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