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ALROSA Starts Stripping Operation at Botuobinskaya
Dec 24, 2012 2:43 AM
By Dilipp S Nag
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RAPAPORT... ALROSA has started a stripping operation at its Botuobinskaya diamond pipe, the first phase in developing the deposit in preparation for mining minerals.
The stripping operations will last for three years with commercial diamond mining at Botuobinskaya expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Russia-based miner stated.
ALROSA said that the diamond pipe will be worked out as an open pit, while its ore will be processed at the existing facilities of Nyurba GOK, a mining and concentrating mill. The open-pit mine will produce about 1.5 million carats annually after Botuobinskaya reaches its design capacity of 300,000 tonnes of ore per year, the company noted.
Botuobinskaya, which is located three kilometers from the Nyurbinskaya diamond pipe currently being mined, has an estimated diamond reserve of more than 70 million carats given its diamond grade is 5.13 carats per tonne, ALROSA noted. Botuobinskaya diamonds are characterized by a high proportion of gem-quality and near-gem-quality stones having a high degree of transparency.
ALROSA has included the mining operations to be launched at Botuobinskaya in its long-term development plan until 2021. The company expects Botuobinskaya will make up for dwindling ore production at Nyurbinskaya where mining began in 2000.
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Tags:
Alrosa, Botuobinskaya, diamond, Dilipp S Nag, mining, Nyurbinskaya
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