The DRC is the world's 3rd largest diamond producer in terms of carats, and the diamond-rich Kasaï Provinces account for the production of over 20 million carats of diamonds per year and have produced two of the 'top-ten' largest gem quality diamonds in the world. The new investor-friendly DRC Mining Code (Law 007/2002), which conforms to world best practice, has attracted significant investment by both major and junior international exploration and mining companies.
The majority of the Mwana's permits lie within what is considered to be a 'kimberlite emplacement corridor' extending into the DRC from the rich diamond producing Lunda Norte Province in neighbouring Angola. This ground is prospective for both primary diamond deposits (kimberlites/lamproites) and secondary (alluvial) diamond deposits.
The company's kimberlite exploration programs are contained in permits covering in excess of 50,000 km² in a two agreements with BHP Billiton, the Kabinda North Project covering 2,700 km² in permits in joint venture with Nyumba Ya Akiba SPRL, and the newly added 370 km² Vikkas joint venture project.
The BHP Billiton Framework agreement area was acquired by Mwana through its merger with Gravity Diamonds on 21 May 2007. Gravity had been active in the Kasai Craton since 2004, and though heavy mineral prospecting and extensive aeromagnetic surveys, had highlighted four areas that may host diamond-bearing kimberlite deposits. Mwana holds some of these tenements in its own right, and the other through various option and farm-in agreements with offshore and Congolese companies. The 2007 field season has constrained these high interest areas through the collection of over 5000 follow-up and in-fill sampling from stream sediments that drain these anomalous areas. A further 157,000 line kilometers of AM have been flown to acquire magnetic data that will identify possible kimberlite intrusions. These results are currently been interpreted to produce targets that can be investigated by through ground follow-up and drilling.
The BHP Billiton joint venture is focused on conducting systematic regional and detailed follow-up stream sampling surveys to upgrade targets and the regional reconnaissance sampling program is highlighting new diamond prospective areas. Systematic detailed reconnaissance stream sampling commenced in late 2005, and all permits were sampled by the end of 1st Quarter 2007. Over 5000 samples have been taken at a sample density of 1 sample per 3km², and an additional 4900 follow-up stream and soil samples have been taken to date in order to further constrain reconnaissance anomalies. A total of 83,000 line-km of airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical surveys covering the entire BHP Billiton project area have been completed in the last year. Approximately 200 pipe-like targets have been identified in the AM data, and these anomalies are being followed up by ground magnetic surveys, and the high interest targets are or have been drilled.
Within the Kabinda North Project, reconnaissance stream sampling was completed in 2006 at an average sample density of 1 sample per 5km², and follow-up sampling was carried out in 2007. The processed samples have returned positive visual kimberlitic indicator mineral results and the company is awaiting the final probe confirmation results. Should the probe return high-interest results exploration follow-up will include a high-resolution airborne geophysical survey.
The Vikkas Project consists of four separate permit areas which all have significant kimberlite potential. In addition, two of the Vikkas permits have high-interest alluvial diamond targets with one permit area located on the Sankuru River upstream from the past producing Panio Matomboalluvial mine, and the second area located near Gem Diamonds' developing Mbelenge alluvial mine on the Kasai River in the Djoku Punda area. Reconnaissance sampling of this area was completed in 2007.
Kasai projects programme progress
