DIAMONDS
July 2014
MODERN MINING
47
Kimberley
Contacts for further information
The conference is being organised by RCA and Associates who also helped
organise the 2007 Kimberley Diamond Symposium. Interested parties can
contact Michele at
,
tel (+27 11) 487-3819/2260, John Bris-
tow
or Mike de Wit
and visit the fol-
lowing websites for more information –
or
Above:
Polished thin section
of a Roberts Victor eclogite
– this is a section of a unique
high pressure mantle
sample from the deep
(>150 km) mantle brought
to the earth’s surface by the
Roberts Victor kimberlite
intrusion.
Left:
Diamond bearing
gravels of the Vaal River
at Windsorton north of
Kimberley – note old tunnels
dug by Welsh miners in the
early 1900s.
important focal point of the local and interna-
tional diamond business.
The Kimberley Diamond Symposium will
comprise a day and a half of technical presen-
tations and poster sessions, indoor and outdoor
exhibitor displays, and two days of mine visits,
including underground visits and field trips.
The technical and poster sessions have
attracted considerable interest from local and
international diamond experts, researchers
and companies and will focus on wide ranging
new developments, trends, and leading edge
research and development in the diamond
industry.
The planned field trips will have tour guides
with specific knowledge of the areas, geology
and activities to be seen on these trips. The
following destinations and mines have been
targeted as part of the field and mine trip
programme:
Underground visit to the famous Kimberley
Mines led by Petra Diamonds.
Underground visit to the world-class Finsch
diamond mine owned by Petra Diamonds.
Nooitgedacht and Barkly West alluvial dia-
mond tour including Kanteen Koppie and
Holpan-Klipdam alluvial deposits.
Middle Orange River to inspect alluvial
deposits and mining operations on extensive
ancient remnant terrace deposits. Included
will be a visit to De Kalk which is the site of
the first diamond discovery in South Africa.
Rooipoort Vaal River alluvial diamond
mining operations, rehabilitation activities,
and unique wildlife viewing opportunity.
Ekapa Mining dump retreatment operation,
which is reprocessing old Kimberley tailings
dumps.
Roberts Victor mine trip to sample unique
eclogite and other nodules from a micaceous
Group 2 kimberlite locality.
Kimberley’s ‘big-holes’, tailings dumps and
mantle nodule tour.
A number of key sponsors, including De
Beers, have already signed up for the sympo-
sium and there has been excellent interest in
the event from local and international geolo-
gists, engineers and diamond researchers. A
wide range of service providers and equip-
ment suppliers and manufacturers, including
large earthmoving companies, will be exhibit-
ing their wares.
Besides the participation of many well-
known diamond operators, scientists and
individuals, the symposium also intends
attracting some of the ‘characters’ of the indus-
try including diamond diggers from the Vaal
and Orange River and Ventersdorp areas, many
of whom have become legends in the industry
and who are now in their senior years. The
intention is to bring these veterans together to
share some of their experiences and pioneer-
ing deeds and chat about some of the large and
remarkable diamonds they have recovered in
the Northern Cape.
