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RAPAPORT... Kimberley Diamonds Limited plans to recommence diamond mining at its Ellendale E4 mine this year and anticipates producing 200,000 carats of diamonds from the parcel in 2015. Alex Alexander, the executive chairman of Kimberley Diamonds, stated that Ellendale currently produces 120,000 carats of diamonds annually from E9 and with E4 back in the pipeline, they anticipate at least twice the current level of rough production. ''Having the two mines in operation at Ellendale creates synergies and reduces operating costs, resulting in higher operating margins. The reopening of E4 further advances our strategy of becoming a diversified diamond producer,'' he said. Ellendale's E4 operation was placed on care and maintenance in February 2009 by Gem Diamonds Limited, which operated the mine until Kimberley Diamonds acquired the property. JORC-compliant E4 indicated resource was measured at 6.1 million tonnes of ore and 6.66 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht), while inferred resources registered 50 million tonnes of ore at 3.92 cpht for a total of 2.37 million carats, according to the junior explorer.
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