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MODERN MINING
March 2016
feature
DIAMONDS
A recent view of the Residue
Storage Facility (RSF). This
has involved 103 000 m
3
of
cut and 1,5 million m
3
of fill.
definitely has the ability to produce large
stones. We believe that during previous pro-
cessing campaigns at the site at least three
large stones of plus 200 carats – one a plus
400-carat yellow diamond – were broken in the
pilot plant, a conclusion based on the analysis
of fragments,” he explains. “If the large stone
potential is realised during operation of the
mine, we calculate that the average carat price
could be US$156/carat.”
Describing the Main Treatment Plant or
MTP, Brown says that it uses a conventional
flowsheet comprising scrubbing, screening,
crushing, concentration via DMS and final
recovery using Flowsort X-ray machines.
It will have 2 x 250 t/h processing streams.
“We are deliberately not pioneering any new
technology,” he notes. “Everything is proven
and we know it will work.”
To implement Liqhobong, Brown – who is
ex-De Beers (he served as Group CFO for five
years before being appointed Joint Acting
CEO) – has assembled a highly experienced
project team. It is headed by Glenn Black, who
also has a background with De Beers (one of
the projects he managed was Voorspoed in the
Free State) and who has been involved in the
project since February 2014. Firestone has also
appointed contractors with good track records.
The vastly experienced DRA is the EPCM
contractor, Turnkey Civils Lesotho is respon-
sible for the Residue Storage Facility (RSF),
Stefanutti Stocks is undertaking the earthworks
and civils, SMEI is the structural, mechanical,
The Liqhobong plant
features a conventional
flowsheet and will have a
capacity of 500 t/h.