Botswana Diamonds sets out exploration program for H1 with Alrosa

Botswana Diamonds announced its exploration program for the first half 2016 for Botswana. The program expected to begin in March will be managed by Alrosa, the 50 percent partner with Botswana Diamonds in the venture.

John Teeling, chairman, commented "This is a very focused programme. The wide diameter holes to be drilled on a known kimberlite on our new licence in Orapa, PL 260, are to test whether diamond grades improve at depth.

The program will include drilling in the Orapa area, of one core hole to 300m depth and one or two large diameter holes, each 300 metres deep on kimberlite pipe AK21 on PL 260 in the Orapa area. Drilling of two or three follow-up holes, 80 metres each on PL 210 in the Orapa area, hard rock and heavy concentrate sampling on PLs 260 and 210 in Orapa and on the company’s four licences in the Gope area will also be undertaken. Ground magnetic surveys and electromagnetic (TEM) surveys in Orapa and in Gope are also planned.

The program budget will entail $700,000 of which half will be paid by Botswana Diamonds.

John Teeling added, “The follow up holes on PL 210 are to investigate local geophysical anomalies (magnetic and electromagnetic) which can be connected with kimberlites. The Gope area is emerging as an attractive diamond province with the Gem owned Ghagoo mine and the Petra owned KX36 discovery. We have already explored three small licences in the area and found anomalies. The proposed work will identify drill targets."