All of the subject Properties lie within the Orapa kimberlite cluster on the southwestern edge of the Zimbabwe Craton of Southern Africa with a stable, cool cratonic setting favourable for the intrusion of diamondiferous kimberlite and associated alluvial deposits. The Orapa cluster, comprising approximately 60 known pipes and dykes is located in north-eastern Botswana, east of the Kalahari sub-basin. During the late-Cretaceous epoch (~93 Ma), the Orapa kimberlites were erupted through deformed Archaean basement overlain by volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Karoo Supergroup. The pipes are located near to the contact between the Archaean Limpopo belt and Zimbabwe craton which forms the suture zone with the Kaapvaal craton. The Limpopo belt (3500 – 2500 Ma) consists of complex metamorphic terrains composed of gneissic, granitic and metasedimentary rocks.

The kimberlite pipes located within these mining licences form part of the Cretaceous-aged (144–65 Ma) Orapa Kimberlite Cluster. These kimberlites were emplaced through the complete sequence of local equivalents of the Karoo Supergroup rocks, which overlie rocks of the early Proterozoic Magondi Mobile Belt. The latter have been thrust over the western edge of the Kaapvaal Craton, based on xenolith studies from Orapa and Letlhakane. The cratonic rocks in this area are comprised of Archaean-aged tonalitic gneiss. The Karoo Stormberg basalt at the top of the Karoo Supergroup is overlain by a thin cover of the Kalaha ........

The Orapa Regime (cluster) consists of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines, which are open-pit operations using traditional truck and shovel methods.

Orapa: The largest conventional open pit diamond mine in the world and the world’s largest diamond mine producer by carats.

Letlhakane: Open-pit operations at Letlhakane Mine ceased as planned in 2017. The plant for processing of tailings, which will extend the life of the operation to 2043, has been completed and is now operational. The plant has a capacity of up to 800,000 carats per annum.

Damtshaa: The mine was placed on care and maintenance at the end of Q1 2021.

The mine plan involves designing progressive “cuts” into the ground, which are developed in a series of “benches”, usually 12-16m in height.

The slope angle of the cut depends on the strength of the country rock mass – the stronger country rocks, e.g. basalt, at the Debswana northern mines, may have slopes of up to 60 degrees, whereas the weaker rocks, such as mudstones, have much gentler slopes, of the order of 30 – 45 degrees.

Currently Orapa is mining at a depth of 305 metres and is expected to reach 350 metres by 2026.

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