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Exploration Begins in Orapa
Exploration Begins in Orapa.
About this update from Botswana Minerals Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 9396S Botswana Diamonds PLC 23 March 2016 \n\n23rd March 2016\nBotswana Diamonds PLC \n(\"Botswana Diamonds\" or the \"Company\")\n \nExploration Begins in Orapa\n\n \n\n \n \nHighlights\n· Sampling started on March 21st on two licences in Orapa. Mineralogists plan to arrive on site on March 28th to analyse the samples; \n· Geophysics expected to begin March 28th ; \n· Diamond drilling expected to commence on Kimberlite AK21 on PL 260 the first week of April, to be followed by reverse circulation wide diameter drilling; and\n· Verification drilling to run concurrently on PL 210.\n \nThe Directors of Botswana Diamonds (AIM: BOD) are pleased to announce the start of an active programme of exploration in Botswana, first on licences in the Orapa area then in the Gope area.\n \nThe exploration programme is being led by a team from Alrosa, our 50/50 joint venture partner, supported by an experienced BOD team.\n \nGeologists have begun sampling on PLs 260 and 210. PL 260 covers an area of 25 sq km between the Karowe and Orapa diamonds mines. It contains 3 kimberlites AK21, AK22 and AK23, known to contain diamonds. Alrosa and BOD have evaluated existing data and agreed that significant potential exists on the block. A soil sampling geophysics, diamond drilling and reverse circulation wide diameter drill programme is ongoing and will continue on the block until the end of April. The two/three wide diameter holes have a target depth of 300 metres. A 90 tonne bulk sample will be analysed in a bulk sampling plant in Botswana.\n \nA second team is deployed to PL 210 where two holes were drilled in 2015. Targeted geophysics and soil sampling are designed to select drill sites for diamond drilling, which will commence in early April. There are extensive Kimberlitic Indicator Minerals (KIMs) on PL 210 and we hope that the new drilling programme will identify the source.\n \nOn the completion of sampling and geophysics on PLs 210 and 260 the teams will move to the Gope Region. Follow up work will be conducted on PLs 135, 136 and 137, where anomalies were...