SearchGold Provides Opertional Update on Stellar Diamonds plc
October 19 2010 - 10:14AM
Marketwired
SearchGold Resources Inc. ("SearchGold")(TSX VENTURE:
RSG)(FRANKFURT: S1O) is pleased to provide an update on Stellar
Diamonds plc ("Stellar") and its African diamond operations.
Q3 2010 Mandala operational update
Recent highlights include :
-- Quarterly production from Mandala of 18,291 carats, up 31% on second
quarter,
-- Quarterly sales from Mandala of 18,549 carats at an average price of $US
33 per carat,
-- Quarterly revenue from Mandala of $US 609,000,
-- Diamonds in stock of 8,194 carats,
-- Total production at Mandala has now exceeded 102,000 carats.
At the Mandala diamond project, production for the third quarter
ending September 2010 yielded 18,291 carats at an average grade of
23.39 carats per hundred tonnes ("cpht") of mined gravel. The
quarterly production was significantly higher than the second
quarter (13,913 carats) primarily as a result of the introduction
of new earth moving machinery in late July and irrespective of the
seasonal rains forcing production to lower grade high terrace
deposits.
Diamond sales from Mandala in the third quarter comprised 18,549
carats at an average price of $US 32.82 per carat, for revenue of
$US 608,819, though 8,194 carats were in stock at the end of the
quarter. Sales for 2010 to date total 51,471 carats for revenue of
$US 1,742,635. The average price per carat for 2010, compared to
2009 is $US 33.86 per carat versus $US 28.16 per carat, 20% higher,
reflecting the general improvement in global diamond prices in the
period.
Total production at Mandala since Stellar commenced mining in
April 2009 has now exceeded a major milestone of 100,000 carats, at
an average grade of 34cpht.
Bomboko Diamond Project update
Recent highlights include :
-- Production of 576 carats,
-- Diamond sales of 1,664 carats at an average price of $US 115 per carat,
-- Latest sales price achieved of $US 132 per carat,
-- Total production of 5,116 carats from trial mining at Bomboko to date,
-- Optimisation of plant to enhance diamond recoveries on going.
Two parcels of diamonds were sold from Bomboko in the third
quarter, comprising 1,664 carats for an average sales price of $US
114.82, generating revenue of $US 191,057. The sale of the most
recent parcel of 815 carats achieved a higher average sales price
of $US 132.07 per carat, reflecting the general improvement in
global diamond prices.
As anticipated, trial mining at Bomboko was temporarily
suspended in early August due to the seasonal rains. Production for
the quarter was therefore reduced from the second quarter (576
carats versus 1,510 carats). Total production from trial mining at
Bomboko has now reached 5,116 carats at an average grade of 4
carats per hundred tonne of gravel.
Resource Definition Ongoing
The Bomboko diamond operation currently has an inferred resource
at 41,000 carats. Stellar considers this may be significantly
expanded and has therefore been undertaking a programme of
geological mapping designed to identify additional resource areas.
Trial mining by way of a series of regular mine cuts across these
potential new resource areas will commence in late October. In the
meantime the treatment plant is being modified and upgraded in
order to enhance diamond recoveries. Furthermore, an X-Ray Flow
sort diamond recovery module is being installed and this is
expected to further increase diamond recovery and security.
About Stellar Diamonds plc
Stellar Diamonds plc is a London (AIM: STEL) listed diamond
mining and exploration company that has a portfolio of projects in
West Africa. Two projects in Guinea, Mandala and Bomboko, are in
mining and trial mining respectively, which provide cash flow to
the Company.
Stellar also owns full rights over four high-grade kimberlites
that are to be the focus of future development. In Sierra Leone at
the Tongo project a bulk sampling programme is currently underway
on one key kimberlite to assess the diamond grade and value,
whereas at the Kono project underground trial mining has produced
4,200 carats as part of an economic evaluation exercise. In Guinea
Stellar's Droujba kimberlite pipe and Bouro kimberlite dykes are
located in proximity to Stellar's Mandala project and demonstrate
high diamond grades. Droujba will be drilled in the near
future.
About SearchGold Resources Inc.
SearchGold is a Canadian-based mining exploration company whose
primary mission is to target, explore and develop gold deposits in
Africa. The Company is currently involved in Burkina Faso, Gabon
and Guinea; it has recently been evaluating mining projects in new
African jurisdictions, which are geographically accretive with its
current position. Through innovative corporate transactions,
SearchGold has been able to retain an interest in all the important
assets it has acquired and developed during its existence as a
public company and intends on leveraging its long established
presence in Africa to pursue its development.
SearchGold holds two million shares of Stellar Diamonds plc.
Please see: www.stellar-diamonds.com for additional
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
http://www.searchgold.ca
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contacts: SearchGold Resources Inc. Philippe Giaro President
& CEO +32-473-52-30-29 phgiaro@skynet.be
Searchgold Resources Inc. (TSXV:RSG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Searchgold Resources Inc. (TSXV:RSG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024