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Gemfields’ 1Q Emerald and Beryl Production Jumps 10%, Ruby and Corundum Plummet 83%
Nov 18, 2015 9:54 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... Colored gemstone miner Gemfields reported emerald and beryl
production from its Zambian subsidiary Kagem Mining Limited jumped to 7.5 million carats in the first quarter to September 30, a 19 percent
surge from a year ago. The average grade rose 11 percent to 237 carats per
tonne. Revenue from its predominantly higher-quality rough emerald auction in
Singapore in September was $34.7 million, the company said in a statement.
Ruby and corundum output from Mozambique-based Montepuez
Ruby Mining Limited plunged 83 percent to 500,000 carats. However, the volume
of higher-quality rubies recovered soared 96 percent, the company said.
Overall, the average grade plummeted 83 per cent to 7 carats per tonne.
“Demand for colored gemstones continues to be firm as we
look forward to our next lower-quality rough emerald and beryl auction later
this month and our next auction of predominantly higher-quality rubies from
Montepuez in December 2015,” Gemfields CEO Ian Harebottle said in the
statement.
In September, the group sold $440,000 of higher-quality
rough amethyst from its 50 percent-owned Kariba mine in Zambia at an auction in
Singapore. The average realized price was $0.04 per carat, with 11 out of 16 lots sold, it said.
Gross profit from the company’s Faberge brand climbed 61 per
cent from a year earlier. Gross margin advanced 21 percentage points to 51
percent, the company added in the statement.
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Tags:
beryl, colored gemstones, corundum, emerald, Gemfields, Kagem Mining Limited, Rapaport News, ruby, zambia
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