Botswana Diamonds starts Cameroon sampling

London-listed junior Botswana Diamonds started sampling operations at its Mobilong licence, in Cameroon.

The company said on Monday that two samples, between 100 t and 150 t, were being sourced from potentially diamond-bearing regions. Botswana Diamonds hoped to release the results in the second quarter of 2012.

The diamond junior reported last week that it was optimistic about the potential diamond-yielding prospects at its 8 000 km² exploration tenement in Cameroon.

Botswana Diamonds noted that, historically, gold and uranium were the only minerals commercially mined from these deposits, however, the discovery of diamonds by Korean miner C&K Mining while exploring a gold opportunity at Mobilong, proved the possibility of diamond recovery.

Meanwhile, the company’s 49%-owned Zimbabwean operations continued with a small bulk sample on diamond claims in the Masvingo area. Botswana Diamonds hoped to confirm the presence of kimberlites and to determine if they were diamondiferous.

BOARD CHANGES

Botswana Diamonds director Andre Fourie has stepped down, opting to consult for the company. A director would be appointed in the near future.

Meanwhile, Kabelo Mohohlo was appointed to the boards of wholly owned subsidiaries Kukama Mining and Exploration and Atlas Minerals. He is the MD of African Alliance Botswana Securities.