BOD starts Orapa Drilling

The firm said two specific targets would be drilled at its PL117/2011 prospecting licence, which are both based in the northern portion of the 2.9 square kilometre block. The targets, identified through recent work by joint venture Sunland Minerals, a partnership between Botswana Diamonds and Alrosa-Nyurba OJSC, the Russian diamond-mining group, are prospective for the discovery of kimberlite bodies.

Verification drilling depth will be 100 metres, and after the core is studied in Botswana, the specimens and samples from the site will be dispatched to St Petersburg, Russia for analysis, Botswana Diamond said. The group also said an extensive work programme is being finalised for the new licences, and an enlarged team from Alrosa is due to join the existing Botswana Diamonds team at the site in September. “It has taken two years of painstaking data gathering and analysis to get to first drilling.