Botswana Diamonds (BOD) the AIM and BSE listed explorer has completed intensification drilling programme on the farms Frischgewaagt and Hartbeesfontein which form part of the Thorny River project. According to the company, “the purpose of this drilling programme was to enable detailed planning for a bulk sampling (mining) programme, which will commence after the necessary regulatory approvals have been received; these are expected during the course of Q2 2019”. 

This programme comprised 33 holes and 1,282 meters of drilling which, together with previous work, has resulted in a total drilled depth of 3,299 meters in five areas on the two farms whilst BOD has been active on the property.  “The intensification drilling programme has allowed further definition of the kimberlite blow/fissure complex and added to data already generated by gravity, magnetic, maxmin and other advanced exploration techniques.”

A bulk sampling target of 3.9 km of linear kimberlite fissure intersection has been identified from the results with intersections of up to 18 meters from 4 meters below surface. Areas hosting possible blows have also been identified, and these will form part of the bulk sampling (mining) area, which is adjacent to that from which a bulk sample was taken in early 2018 (which indicated diamond values of US$120 – US$220 / carat and grades of 46 – 74 carats per hundred tonnes (or in-situ value of US$55 – US$160 / tonne).