AMN - SOUTH AFRICA: Trial emerald mining at Gravelotte

Magnum Mining & Exploration has begun trial mining at its 74%-owned Gravelotte Emerald Project in the Limpopo province of South Africa. A processing program at the project is expected to begin shortly.

Phase 1 of a 10,000-tonne trial mining and processing program began in late February with the mobilisation of contractors to site.

Mining of around 2100 tonnes from waste dumps has been completed and processing of this material, involving crushing, screening and hand sorting, has started.

Phase 2 will involve mining and processing of 8000 tonnes of hard rock sourced from the Cobra and Discovery pits. This will start in April and is expected by the end of the June quarter.

The objective of the trial mining is to provide critical information to assist with re-establishing commercial mining operations at Gravelotte, which was a major producer of emeralds over several decades until the early 1980s.

The program is designed to confirm historical emerald grades, optimise mining and processing techniques and recoveries, and allow Magnum to establish the value of the emeralds produced in the open market.

The company is targeting recovery of at least 250,000 carats of emeralds from the total trial mining and processing program.

Emeralds were discovered in Limpopo province in 1927 and, since then, several companies have explored for and mined within the broader region for emeralds.

From 1929 to 1982, the total recorded emerald production from the Gravelotte project as well as the area surrounding the nearby Gravelotte township was nearly 113 million carats.

It is reported that, during the 1960s, the project itself was the largest mine of its type in the world, employing over 400 sorters.

During the past 36 months, Magnum has worked to re-establish the historical database and develop a strong understanding of the geology, structure and controls of mineralisation within the project area.

www.mmel.com.au