Irish company locates diamonds in Botswana drilling

African Diamonds has recovered diamonds from drill samples in a previously barren kimberlite in Central Botswana.

The recovery of two diamonds at this preliminary stage of processing is significant as there is no record of diamonds being recovered in this area, the Orapa AK9 kimberlite before.

Dublin businessman and Chairman of African Diamonds plc John Teeling said :"This discovery is an unexpected bonus. AK9 is a large pipe with no known history of diamonds.

"We have now proven it to be diamondiferous. We are very confident that the X-ray analysis will find more diamonds on AK8 and on BK10," Keeling added.

This follows the findings of two gem quality diamonds from similar samples of kimberlite BK10 in December 2003.

AK 9 is a two-hectare kimberlite located 15 kilometres to the south east of the main Orapa AK1 kimberlite.

It currently produces 15m carats a year and is one of 21 kimberlites within African Diamonds prospecting licence number 4/2002.

Four of these kimberlites, BK16, AK8, AK9 and AK12 were drilled in October of 2003 and are currently being analysed.

This material is being pre-concentrated in the field using a small jig plant in preparation for transport to an X-ray facility in South Africa for final Diamond recovery.