04 Nov 2014

Karowe Mine is set to be the first diamond mine to use x-ray transmission (X-RT) technology as a primary diamond recovery, Lucara Diamond Corporation chief operations officer, Mr Paul Day has said. 

Speaking during a celebration of a million carats recovered from Karowe mine on November 1, Mr Day stated that the mine was on the verge of making history by becoming the first diamond mine to use X-RT technology to recover diamonds and as such challenged employees to prepare to be part of the new development. 

According to the press release posted on http://uncore.comX-RT is a “an unconventional process of pre-concentration which can effectively upgrade the mill feed prior to more conventional physical upgrading and acid leaching.”

The release further states that, “the equipment requires a relatively small footprint and will treat crushed ore prior to the process plant. As a result, the technology has the potential to remove large quantities of gangue material, substantially increasing the run of mine (ROM) ore grade before any conventional processing takes place.”

As a result the COO informed the gathering that the mine was entering uncharted territory, “we are going into this ore body that scares off lesser geologists, miners and metallurgists, and even lessor investors.”

Consequently, Mr Day called on workers to familiarise themselves with the new technology, challenges of a harder rock and mining at depth and the challenges of increased maintenance amongst other things. 

“Whichever department within you work understand our safety, our production and our cost goals. Through doing this no matter what your background or department you will contribute in a greater manner,” he appealed. 

The COO revealed that Karowe mine “has every chance of running far in excess of its original design life.” He also revealed that plans were afoot for Karowe 2 although there was good chance that Karowe would develop underground operation to take the life of the mine beyond 2035.

He promised, “Boteti is here to stay” and revealed that their plant was undergoing some maintenance which is deemed a gateway to the future of the mine. ENDS