Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Block caving
- Sub-level caving
|
| Processing |
- Dense media separation
- X-Ray sorting
|
| Mine Life | 12 years (as of Jan 1, 2018) |
Finsch is one of the world’s significant diamond mines and South Africa’s second largest diamond operation. |
Source:
| Company | Interest | Ownership |
|
Petra Diamonds Ltd.
|
74 %
|
Indirect
|
|
Senakha Diamonds Investments (Pty) Ltd
|
21 %
|
Indirect
|
|
Finsch Diamond Mine (Pty) Ltd.
|
74 %
|
Direct
|
Petra Diamonds Limited: 74%
Kago Diamonds (Pty) Ltd: 14%
Itumeleng Petra Diamonds Employee Trust: 12%
Summary:
Finsch has an age of 118 ± 2.8 Ma, and is a
Group-2 kimberlite. The geology of Finsch Mine in the open-pit and on the 348 m
underground sampling level was described by Clement. The pipe was emplaced through a thick sequence of Proterozoic, Griqualand West sequence sedimentary rocks comprising dolomites, banded iron formation and shales. Preserved within the pipe are large fragments of Karoo-aged sediments, lavas and dolerite which were clearly present at the time of emplacement, but have been subsequently eroded away.
Clement defined eight kimberlite varieties in the mine which he called F1–F8. F1 was described as being the most significant volumetrically and was classified as a diatreme-facies TKB. This variety
hosted numerous very large blocks of down rafted Karoo basalt lava and sedimentary rocks. The F5 variety was also described as TKB, but occurred within a satellite portion of the pipe called “the precursor”. The other varieties were classified as hypabyssal kimberlite or kimberlite breccia.
Exploration of deeper levels of the mine found that the F8 variety increased in size with depth, and that the lithiccontent of the F1 declined with depth. Mapping of deeper levels has also revealed the presence of steeply dipping bedding planes within both the F1 and F8 varieties. Ekkerd et al. suggested that the F1 and F8 could be the same kimberlite, varying only in lithic content and alteration.
Mining Methods
- Block caving
- Sub-level caving
Summary:
The proposed mining method was dismissed as being impractical as a result of geotechnical and brow wear concerns, and it was suggested that an ‘incline cave’ mining concept be investigated.
The cave mining method is proposed for Finsch Block 5 by detailing the findings of modelling and design work.
There are three mining methods which are the most applicable to the Finsch Block 5 orebody:
-Sublevel caving (SLC)
-Block caving (BC)
-Front caving (FC).
Processing Technologies
- Dense media separation
- X-Ray sorting
Summary:
Density (Dense medium separation)
• Diamond - SG = 3.52
• Kimberlite - SG = 2.65
-Hydrophobic and oleophyllic (grease recovery)
-Colour (transparent – optical sorting) Shape (shape sorting)
-Non-magnetic (magnetic separation)
-Fluorescence (X-Ray recovery)
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Diamond
|
Head Grade, carats/t
| 0.62 | 0.57 | 0.44 | 0.43 |
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Diamond
|
carats
| ......  | ...... | ...... | 2,065,875 |
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | ...... | 5,843,716 t | 5,672,856 t |
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Reserves at December 31, 2018:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained carats |
|
Proven & Probable
|
41.1 Mt
|
Diamond
|
0.577 carats/t
|
23.74 M carats
|
|
Indicated
|
34.3 Mt
|
Diamond
|
0.692 carats/t
|
23.75 M carats
|
|
Inferred
|
36 Mt
|
Diamond
|
0.534 carats/t
|
19.19 M carats
|
Operating Costs:
| | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Total operating costs ($/t milled)
|
ZAR
| 329 | 253 | 183 | 164 |
Financials:
| | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| ......  | ...... | ...... |
88
|
|
Revenue
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... | ...... |
185.4
|
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Aerial view:
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