Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publically traded junior diamond mining company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol V.DMI, and on the OTC QX International under the symbol DMIFF. The Company has a well-established operational and production history in South Africa, extensive experience supplying rough diamonds to the world market, and has established a long-term strategic alliance with world famous Tiffany & Co. Rather than exposing itself to the high risks and costs associated with exploration, the Company's focus is on the identification, acquisition, and operation of unique diamond projects with near-term production potential such as the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project.
Photo credit Tiffany & Co.
The tender and sale of the previously announced ~91.65 carat gem quality octahedron diamond (final weight 91.72 carats) for total proceeds of $817,920.00 (US), or $8,917.58 (US) per carat. This is the first gem quality diamond sold in the +50 carat size category. The diamond was sold as part of a total sale of 2,654.63 carats of rough diamonds generating total proceeds of $1,145,604.68 (US), or $431.55 (US) per carat from the Company's Krone-Endora at Venetia Project ("Krone-Endora" or the "Project"). The majority of rough diamonds sold were recovered in conjunction with ongoing testing and commissioning exercises on the lower-grade upper zone material in the +1.2mm to -12.0mm size fractions. Despite the fact the lower-grade upper zone material is expected to produce lower value and smaller size stones, the value per carat achieved from the sale of these diamonds exceeded the Company's expectations. The remaining diamonds, including the 91.72 carat stone, came from the limited processing of material in the +12.0mm to -26.0mm size fractions.
To date, the Company has tendered and sold a total of 14,110.48 carats generating total proceeds of $2,928,047.73 (US), or$207.51 (US) per carat on average from the ongoing commissioning and testing exercises being performed at the Project. It should be noted that these testing recoveries, and sales, do not form part of the initial NI43-101 Technical Report filed by the Company in July 30, 2009, and thus no grade, price, or quality determination is intended by the Company at this time due to the nature and purpose of the processing of this material.
As announced on March 29, 2011, the Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at then current prices to be determined by the parties on an ongoing basis. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with substantial financing to advance the Project as quickly as possible. Tiffany & Co. is a publically traded company which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TIF. Founded in 1837, the Tiffany name is now globally recognised as one of the premier luxury jewellery and specialty retailers in the world. Through Tiffany & Co. and various other subsidiaries, the company is engaged in product design, manufacturing, and retailing activities on a global basis. As of January 2013, Tiffany & Co. operated 275 stores and boutiques in the Americas, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United Arab Emirates, and also engages in direct selling through internet, catalog and business gift operations.
In February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. De Beers previously completed various exploration efforts on initial areas of interest comprised of approximately 307 hectares, a summary of which was reported in an initial Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report filed by the Company on July 30, 2009. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of an estimated combined 1,000 m (1 km) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur in two layers with an average total depth of less than 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine. Since acquiring Krone-Endora the Company has completed the construction and installation of extensive infrastructure at the Project, along with the installation of a purpose built modular processing plant, and extensive quarrying and in-field screening operations. Commissioning of the processing plant is now complete, and the Company's current efforts and final refinements to the quarry and in-field screening operations are designed to be a continuation of the ongoing advancement of the Project, and part of the Company's final preparations in anticipation of a planned move to 24/7 operations in the near future.