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Prospecting licences PL232 and PL235 issued by Botswana Diamonds subsidiary Sunland Minerals in 2015 have been extended for a two-year term beginning October 1.
Drill targets on the two PLs have been discovered by recent aeromagnetic surveys, followed by targeted ground magnetic surveys and soil samples.
PL232 and PL235, measuring 60 and 164 square meters respectively, are located west of the Ghaghoo diamond mine in the middle of Kalahari and are regarded as very promising.
The nearest kimberlite to these licences is Go194, which is part of the Gope or Ghaghoo kimberlite pipe cluster and close to the south-eastern point of PL235 which is 20 km from the Ghaghoo diamond mine where Botswana Diamonds holds interest and is the operator.
There is considerable infrastructure at Ghaghoo which will facilitate servicing a drilling campaign. The economics of any discovery on the ground will be improved by the closeness of an existing mine, Botswana Diamonds notes.
The environmental management plan for future drilling has been completed and approved.
These licences form part of Botswana Diamonds’ joint venture (JV) with Diamexstrat and Burgundy Diamond Mining. Any work programme will be funded as part of the earn-in arrangement by the joint venture partners.
This renewal is a key development in the company’s primary focus on the Kalahari of Botswana, it notes.
“Botswana Diamonds believes there is the potential for significant new diamond discoveries in the Kalahari. We have quietly built exploration acreage while partnering with Diamexstrat and Burgundy Diamond Mining to finance exploration.
“Until recently, many thought that logistics and water challenges on this acreage could not be overcome.
“However, operational progress at nearby Ghaghoo and KX36 has transformed the situation – much of the set-up costs have already been incurred and incremental discoveries may therefore be potentially developed at lower cost and risk,” Botswana Diamonds MD James Campbell says.
