Modern Mining August 2015



MODERN MINING



August 2015

RUBIES

he resource statement estimates

Montepuez’s indicated and in-

ferred mineral resources at 467

million carats of ruby and corun-

dum at an in-situ grade of 62,3

carats per tonne (ct/t). This consists of an in-

dicated resource of primary mineralisation

of 2,1 Mt or 245 million carats at a grade of

115,4 ct/t; an inferred resource of primary

mineralisation of 0,4 Mt or 44 million carats at

a grade of 115,4 ct/t; and an indicated mineral

resource of secondary mineralisation of 5,0 Mt

or 178 million carats at a grade of 35,7 ct/t.

Probable ore reserves are put at 432 million

carats of ruby and corundum at a diluted ore

grade of 15,7 ct/t. These reserves comprise a

probable primary ore reserve of 2,2 Mt or 253

million carats at a grade of 114,9 ct/t; and a

probable secondary ore reserve of 25,3 Mt or

179 million carats at a grade of 7,07 ct/t.

“As the first recorded mineral resource

and ore reserve statement for Montepuez, the

significance of this report is not only a mile-

stone event that bears testament to the quality

of work carried out by SRK and the expertise

from within the Gemfields team, but provides

further evidence to the continued growth,

positive momentum and opportunity inher-

ent within the coloured gemstone sector,”

comments Gemfields’ Harebottle.

Maiden resource a milestone for

The 100 t/h wash plant.

Gemfields is planning

to expand capacity at

Montepuez to 320 t/h by

upgrading this plant and

building a new permanent

process plant.

Gemfields, whose shares trade on London’s AIM, has

announced the publication of a Competent Persons

Report (CPR) produced by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited

on the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique, which

is 75 %-owned by Gemfields and 25 % by local partner

Mwiriti Limitada. The CPR includes Montepuez’s maiden

mineral resource and ore reserve estimates, prepared in

accordance with JORC Code (2012), and also details a

planned significant expansion of operations at Montepuez

which will see a new process plant being constructed

and the mining fleet expanded. Ian Harebottle, CEO

of Gemfields, describes the resource statement as a

“milestone event” for the mine.