Canadian mining company Diamcor Mining has sold some of the first diamonds recovered during the testing phase of their Krone-Endora diamond mine in the Soutpansberg-area.

Diamcor recently sold 3 123.32 carats of rough diamonds for a total amount of $425 495.03. The diamonds were recovered in August last year, during the commission of the expanded quarrying and in-field screening operations of Krone-Endora.

Diamcor estimated that about half of the rough diamonds sold were recovered from treating previously processed 10mm material through the new expanded quarrying and in-field screening operations, with the remaining recoveries coming from processing new material up to 12 mm in size.

“The overall dollar per carat achieved for these exercises certainly exceeded our expectations,” said Diamcor’s chief executive officer, Mr Dean Taylor.

Krone-Endora is situated just northwest of De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine. In total, the project covers a surface area of approximately 5 888 hectares. Diamcor acquired Krone-Endora from De Beers, in conjunction with a DMI South Africa subsidiary known as Nozala Investments (Pty) Ltd, a 100% women-owned black economic empowerment company.

Taylor said that the sale would ensure a continuation of the company’s efforts to have the mine fully operational in the near future.