Overview
| Status | Care and Maintenance |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
The Ghaghoo underground diamond mining development in Botswana placed on care and maintenance in 2017. Gem Diamonds is considering sale and closure options for the mine.
The Ghaghoo operation remains on care and maintenance but due to the failure to close a sales transaction, including considerations of potential closure of the mine, Ghaghoo no longer met the highly probable requirements and therefore Ghaghoo ceased to be classified as a discontinued operation held for sale as at 31 December 2022. |
Source:
p. 187
Since 2019, in line with the strategic objective to dispose of non-core assets, the Board of Directors and Management have remained committed to the sale of Gem Diamonds Botswana (Pty) Ltd (GDB), which owns the Ghaghoo diamond mine. In May 2022, the sales agreement which Gem Diamonds Limited had entered into with Okwa Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (Okwa Diamonds) lapsed, following the inability of Okwa Diamonds’ owners to secure a funding partner for the transaction.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Central Kalahari region is covered by the vast expanse of unconsolidated to semi-consolidated Kalahari Bed sediments. The bedrock in the area of concern / interest (Gope) lies approximately 75 m below the topographic surface, and comprises a suite of rocks belonging to the Karoo Supergroup. The lithostratigraphy of the Karoo is complex but well known in Botswana (Smith, 1986), with the specifics of the lithologies underlying the site being no exception. The entire Karoo sedimentary sequence, inclusive of the basaltic lava cap is known to occur in the Central Kalahari region.
The Karoo Supergroup has been divided into several lithostratigraphic groups, including (in decreasing age) the Dwyka Group, the Ecca Group, Lebung and Stormberg Groups. For the GDMP only the Lebung and Stormberg Groups need to be considered. The Lebung Group comprises two lithostratigraphic units, referred to as the Mosolotshane and the Ntane Sandstone Formations, comprising intercalated reddish medium to fine grained sandstones, siltstone and mudstone (Mosolotshane Formation) having been laid down in a terrestrial fluvitile environment, while the Ntane Sandstone, which overlies the Mosolotshane Formation, comprises medium to fine grained Aeolian sandstones (wind derived).
Both of these formations are essentially sandstone units, although the transitional member is more silty, and has layers and streaks of mudstone and siltstone as distinguishing marker horizons.
T ........
Summary:
The mine design includes three phases of mining. Phase 1 was designed in order to provide valuable information and data with regards to grade and revenue and the planned sub-level caving (SLC) mining method. Phase 1 commenced production in the higher-grade VKSE facies and is intended to go to a depth of 175 m. Ore is being drilled, blasted and loaded in the production tunnels using mechanised drill rigs and LHDs. Dump trucks haul ore to surface via the decline. The subsequent phases of the project development, which includes Phase 2 and Phase 3, will be mined by SLC (and possibly block cave in the future) mining. The current LoM plan (just mining the VKSE) is for about 10 years.
Source:
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Source:
Summary:
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Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Diamond
|
carats
| 8,084 | 40,976 | 91,499 | 10,167 |
Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| 41,121 t | 231,099 t | 320,630 t | |
|
Tonnes processed
| 43,991 t | 217,372 t | 326,922 t | 48,023 t |
Reserves at January 1, 2014:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained carats |
|
Probable
|
7.5 Mt
|
Diamond
|
27.81 cpht
|
2.08 M carats
|
|
Indicated
|
79.4 Mt
|
Diamond
|
19.51 cpht
|
15.49 M carats
|
|
Inferred
|
28.8 Mt
|
Diamond
|
17.52 cpht
|
5.04 M carats
|
|
Total Resource
|
108.2 Mt
|
Diamond
|
18.98 cpht
|
20.53 M carats
|
Financials:
| | Units | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
|
0.2
|
25.6
|
|
Revenue
|
M USD
|
2.4
|
|
|
Operating Income
|
M USD
|
-7.9
|
-169.7
|
|
Pre-tax Income
|
M USD
|
-8.3
|
-169.7
|
Mine Management:
| Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
|
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Aug 16, 2023
|
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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