Botswana Diamonds has obtained a prospecting permit covering five kimberlite bodies in the Marsfontein region of South Africa, known to contain diamonds. This 900.67-hectare permit surrounds the historic Marsfontein diamond mine.
The permit includes kimberlites M2, M3, M7, M8, and M9 and is adjacent to the company’s Thorny River properties in Limpopo province.
The main focus is on the M3 kimberlite, which has a strike length of 100 meters and widths exceeding 10 meters in some areas.
Previous bulk sampling yielded grades between 13.9 and 137 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht), with diamonds showing good color, quality, and size distribution.
M3 sits on higher ground, allowing easier mining access without costly drilling or blasting.
“Obtaining this permit is great news. We believe the M3 kimberlite, which has never been mined, holds significant potential,” says chairperson John Teeling.
He acknowledges the current downturn in the diamond market, but remains optimistic about future demand recovery for mined diamonds, despite competition from lab-grown alternatives. The company plans to be ready for mining when prices improve.
