据（Stella Diamonds PLC）官网报道， 该公司近日与阿联酋 Citigate Commodities Trading 公司达成协议，决定成立合资公司，共同开发位于几内亚的BAOULE钻石矿项目。
恒星钻石公司总部位于英国伦敦，在伦敦证券交易所创业板（London Stock Exchange, Alternative Investment Market, AIM）上市，该公司主要业务是在西非地区开发钻石矿; 目前主要在塞拉利昂和几内亚拥有钻石矿开采权。
其中，在几内亚，恒星钻石公司有4个钻石矿项目，分别位于：Baoulé, Mandala, Droujba，Katcha。
Baoulé钻石矿，矿区面积5公顷，根据恒星钻石公司的业务介绍，该公司自2014年12月起开始采矿，截止2016年第一季度末，该公司已经在BAOULE矿开采出9万吨干矿石，从中提取筛选出1.1万克拉裸钻。
Mandala钻石矿，恒星钻石公司在2009-2011年期间，在该矿提取出12.8万克拉的裸钻。恒星钻石公司业绩报告称，该公司在几内亚MANDALA矿于2009年4月20日正式开始商业化生产，并且在其首月作业中生产了超过7600克拉钻石。恒星首席执行官卡尔·史密森表示：“曼达拉初期的高品位源于该矿的冲积层钻石项目，并确认赋存有一些较大的钻石，其中包括一颗31克拉的钻石，这预示着该项目具有良好经济前景。”
该公司表示，该矿回收的最大金刚石重31.33克拉、12.94克拉和10.93克拉，但据认为这些金刚石还达不到宝石品级。不过，该矿已经回收了4.66克拉、3.98克拉、3.73克拉、3.33克拉的品级极好的钻石。该项目拥有53.5万克拉钻石资源。
恒星钻石公司在MANDALA矿拥有85%股份。
后由于钻石国际市场价格疲软走低，如此低的市场价格造成恒星公司在MANDALA矿的开采无利可图、 不可持续；鉴此，恒星钻石公司决定暂停开采Mnadala矿，将Mandala矿暂时封存。
Droujba矿，该矿的主体钻石矿体位于地面下360米深处，估算储藏在250万克拉。鉴于钻石国际市场价格近年来持续低迷，恒星钻石公司计划暂时搁置该矿的开采，进行维护保养，等待市场转暖后再视情启动该矿的开采。
Katcha矿，矿脉长5公里，矿区面积118平方公里，已探明储量为293万克拉。恒星公司目前尚未对该矿进行商业化开采。
英国恒星钻石联系方式
伦敦总部
Stellar Diamonds Plc
1st Floor Burleigh House
355-359 Strand
London
WC2R 0HS
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0) 20 7010 7686
F: +44 (0) 20 7010 7699
www.stella-diamonds.com
恒星钻石公司几内亚分公司联系方式
Stella Diamonds Guinea
Immeuble Sony
Avenue de la République
Camayenne
Commune de Dixinn
BP 5682
Tel. 00224 - 662 82 64 20
664 72 57 06
Email.
www.stella-diamonds.com
恒星钻石几内亚分公司总经理
Mr. Alkaly Yansane
Country Representative, Guinea
几内亚Droujba矿高级地质师
Mr. Abdoulaye Diallo
Senior Geologist, Droujba Project
新闻背景：
几内亚钻石矿资源储藏量
几内亚钻石资源储量估算约3亿克拉，其中70%为宝石级，已探明储量约2500-3000万克拉。 储藏于河床的冲积层和矿山的矿脉中，平均品位为每立方米0.12-2克拉，45-60%可加工为首饰，25-40%可用作工业钻石。
几内亚全国各大区均有钻石矿脉，并不断发现新矿点。
大部分钻石产于森几的北部和上几的东南部，南面从马桑达以南的西芒杜山起，北到凯鲁阿内以北，东到科特迪瓦边境，西至基西杜古（Kissidougou）以西同塞拉利昂接壤处。矿床主要分布在巴乌雷（Baoulé）河、米罗（Milo）河、迪亚尼（Diani）河沿岸的凯鲁阿内、基西杜古和马桑达地区。其中凯鲁阿内已探明钻石储量约42万克拉，估计总储量有400-500万克拉。 1996年在金迪亚地区也发现了钻石矿，在福雷卡里亚地区也有零星发现。
驻几内亚使馆经商处
2016年8月4日
Stellar Diamonds plc, the London listed (AIM: STEL) diamond development company focused on West Africa, is pleased to announce that it has signed binding heads of terms with Citigate Commodities Trading (“Citigate”), a Dubai based commodities group, to formulate joint ventures over the Baoulé kimberlite project (“Baoulé”) in Guinea, which has a resource target of approximately 3 million carats, and over two new exploration licences in western Liberia (“Liberia Licences”), which have recently been awarded to Stellar. The proposed joint ventures remain conditional upon completion of due diligence by Citigate and the parties entering into definitive joint venture agreements (“JVA”) for each project.
Highlights of proposed Baoulé Joint Venture:
— Staged earn-in by Citigate of up to 75% of the Baoulé project
o Phase-1 expenditure of US$1.5 million for 25% equity in Baoulé
o Phase-2 expenditure of US$2 million for a further 25% equity in Baoulé
o Phase-3 fully fund a pre-feasibility study for a further 25% equity in Baoulé
— Stellar to be paid an up-front Phase-1 management fee of US$150,000 on signing full JVA
— Stellar to receive 56.25% of gross revenues from Phase-1 trial mining
— Citigate awarded off-take rights on goods exported during the Citigate earn-in process
Highlights of proposed Liberia Joint Venture:
— Two new exploration licences recently awarded to Stellar
— Licences cover areas previously explored by Stellar in 2006/7 which returned positive results
— Staged earn-in by Citigate of up to 85% of the Liberia licences
o Phase-1 expenditure of US$250,000 for 25% equity in the licences
o Phase-2 expenditure of US$2 million for a further 25% equity in the licences
o Phase-3 expenditure of US$4 million for a further 35% equity in the licences
— Stellar to be paid an up-front Phase-1 management fee of US$25,000 on signing of full JVA
— Stellar to receive pro-rata revenues from any diamond sales during any phase of earn-in
— Citigate awarded off-take rights on goods exported during the Citigate earn-in process
Stellar Chief Executive Karl Smithson commented:
“The terms of the joint ventures are highly attractive to Stellar in that we have essentially secured a free carried interest at both Baoulé and our new Liberian licences. importantly, we will receive a proportion of revenues from on-going trial mining at Baoulé at zero cost and have an up-front payment for managing the projects during the first phase of work. These joint ventures allow the key management of Stellar to focus efforts on the development of our high-grade Tongo project in Sierra Leone as we progress towards the mining phase, whilst retaining equity positions in both the Baoulé and Liberia projects.”
Citigate Chief Executive Tohib Iyiola commented:
“Adding the Guinean and Liberian joint venture agreements to Citigate’s portfolio gives us substantial leverage in the Gulf Cooperation Council by securing additional assets in two of West Africa’s most prolific diamond producing nations. With one mining project already in trial mining production, Citigate is working to rapidly expand its portfolio of projects for its West African diamond operator, Safa Afrique, to develop and flourish.”
Proposed terms of the Baoulé Joint Venture
Pursuant to entering into a definitive JVA, Citigate will have a staged earn-in of up to 75% of the equity in Ressources Tassiliman Baoulé (“RTB”), which holds the Baoulé kimberlite project. Stellar currently holds 75% of RTB with the local partner holding the remaining 25%. Both Stellar and its local partner will dilute to 25% of the project equity should Citigate fully fund all three phases of work. Should Citigate progress to fund Phase-3 of the works Stellar’s equity position in relation to the Baoulé project will fall to 18.75% (i.e. 75% of 25%).
Citigate will fund Phase-1 at a budgeted cost of US$1.5 million which will comprise further trial mining of the higher grade/value eastern lobe of the 5 hectare Baoulé kimberlite. Stellar completed a 100,000 tonne bulk sampling exercise at Baoulé in June 2016 from which total sales generated US$1,228,000. It is anticipated that a further 50,000 tonnes of kimberlite will be mined and processed in order to determine with more accuracy the diamond grade and value of the east lobe. At the current +1.25mm grade of 13.3cpht this could yield up to a further 6,600 carats for sale. Previous sales from the east lobe achieved US$156 per carat in May 2015.
During this phase of work, Stellar’s experienced team on site will manage the trial mining programme and Stellar will be paid an up-front management fee of US$150,000. Furthermore, all revenues from this phase of trial mining will be split pro-rata to the joint venture partner’s interest. Therefore, during the Phase-1 programme Stellar will receive 56.25% of gross revenues (being 75% of 75% interest), with the existing local partner receiving 18.75% and Citigate 25%.
Should Citigate elect to progress to Phase-2 it will invest a further US$2 million in order to define an independently signed off indicated mineral resource to a depth of up to 500m. This will require additional drilling and microdiamond sampling of the pipe with the full programme to be determined at the end of Phase-1.
The Phase-3 programme earn-in requires Citigate to fully fund a pre-feasibility level study, the details of which will be established with a reputable and independent consulting company.
As part of the joint venture terms Citigate will have the right to purchase all diamonds produced during the earn-in period.
The Baoulé Joint Venture is conditional upon, inter alia, the completion of Citigate’s due diligence investigations and the parties successfully entering into a JVA. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that Stellar will enter into a definitive JVA in respect to the Baoulé kimberlite project. Citigate has just completed a site visit to Baoulé as part of the due diligence process.
Proposed terms of the Liberia Joint Venture
In late February 2016 Stellar was awarded two licences covering a total area of 670.54 square kilometres in the west of Liberia, around the key diamond area of Kumgbo towards the border with Sierra Leone. Stellar had previously conducted reconnaissance stream sampling in the region in 2006/7 which returned positive results with some samples yielding abundant kimberlitic ilmenite, suggesting proximal kimberlite sources. Stellar currently holds a 90% interest in the licences with its local partner holding the remaining 10%. Stellar originally applied for these licences in 2014 and paid the licence fees of US$43,500 at that time. Since the licences were approved a low cost re-evaluation of the historical results has been undertaken.
Pursuant to entering into a definitive JVA, Citigate will have the right to invest US$6,250,000 over three separate phases in return for an 85% interest in the Liberia Licences, leaving Stellar with a 13.5% equity interest (i.e. 90% of 15%) and the local partner with a 1.5% interest. The Phase-1 programme will entail further reconnaissance and follow up stream sampling at a budgeted cost of US$250,000 and will earn Citigate a 25% interest in the Liberia Licences. Should Citigate elect to progress to Phase-2 of the programme it will invest a further US$2 million for a further 25% interest and will make a further investment of US$4 million at Phase-3 of the programme for an additional 35% interest. All work programmes for Phase-2 and Phase-3 will be determined based on the on-going results and objectives.
Stellar will be paid a US$25,000 management fee for overseeing the Phase-1 work programme. Citigate will also have similar offtake rights as described above in respect to the Baoulé project.
The Liberia Joint Venture is conditional upon, inter alia, the completion of Citigate’s due diligence investigations and the parties successfully entering into a JVA. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that Stellar will enter into a definitive JVA in respect to the Liberia Licences.
Further announcements in respect of the proposed joint ventures in Guinea and Liberia will be made in due course in the event that the Company enters into definitive JVA’s.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
about Citigate
Citigate Commodities Trading Limited is a subsidiary of Citigate International Limited, a UAE-based international group led by entrepreneur and founder Tohib Iyiola. Citigate Commodities Trading Limited-via Safa Afrique Limited, a diamond exploration and development company, which functions as the group’s nominee company and which has been appointed to develop and operate West Africa’s diamond resources-has exploration assets in Sierra Leone, currently coordinated by SRK Consulting, and also specialises in the supply of raw commodities, gold and diamonds in particular, to manufacturing and retail groups.
Competent person
This announcement has been reviewed by Karl Smithson, Chief Executive of Stellar, a qualified geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, metals, Mining, with 27 years’ experience.
about Stellar Diamonds plc
Stellar is an quoted (AIM: STEL) West African focused diamond company with projects at the trial mining and mine development stages in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Stellar Investigates Proposed Guinea-Liberia Joint Ventures Opportunity
July 28, 16 by David Brummer
(IDEX online News) – West-Africa-focused diamond development company Stellar Diamonds plc announced that it has signed binding heads of terms with Dubai-based commodities group over joint ventures in Guinea and Liberia.
The proposed joint ventures are conditional upon completion of due diligence by Citigate Commodities Trading, and the parties entering into definitive joint venture agreements (JVA) for each project.
Highlights of the proposed Baoulé joint venture include staged earn-in by Citigate of up to 75 percent of the Baoulé project; Stellar to be paid an up-front Phase 1 management fee of $150,000 on signing full JVA; Stellar to receive 56.25-percent of gross revenues from Phase 1 trial mining and Citigate awarded off-take rights on goods exported during the Citigate earn-in process.
Highlights of the proposed Liberia joint venture include two new exploration licenses recently awarded to Stellar, as well as similar expenditures on various phases of the process.
“The terms of the joint ventures are highly attractive to Stellar in that we have essentially secured a free carried interest at both Baoulé and our new Liberian licences,” said Stellar chief executive Karl Smithson.
“These joint ventures allow the key management of Stellar to focus efforts on the development of our high-grade Tongo project in Sierra Leone as we progress towards the mining phase, whilst retaining equity positions in both the Baoulé and Liberia projects.”
Advancing two diamond projects with multi-million carat potential to production in West Africa with a focus on imminent trial mining at Baoulé to generate early cash flow.
Stellar holds a portfolio of advanced diamond assets in Sierra Leone and Guinea. The current focus is on the Tongo and Baoule projects.
At Tongo, Stellar has completed an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment over the 1.45 million carat Dyke-1 resource. This PEA delivered robust economics which justifies the application for a mining license, which is ongoing/
At Baoule, trial mining evaluation of the 5 hectare kimberlite in the renowned Aredor mining area of Guinea continues. To date over 9,000 carats have been produced and three diamond sales totaling over US$ 1M completed with the most recent sale in March 2016.
Stellar is approaching the end of its trial mining evaluation of the 5 hectare Baoulé pipe in the Aredor area of SE Guinea. Some 90,000 dry tonnes of the targeted 100,000 tonne bulk sample has been collected and processed through our owner operated DMS treatment plant with over 11,000 carats mined to date. Two diamond sales during 2015 and one during Q1 2016 have realised revenues in excess of US$ 1 million.
The next steps will include diamond value modelling as part of the resource estimate calculation process. The results of the maiden resource statement will determine whether the project should proceed to the Pre-feasibility stage. In house modelling using historical drill data has defined a 22 million tonne ore body to a 300m depth which is expected to host a diamond resource of approximately 3 million carats.At Baoulé, Stellar is focused on concluding its trial mining evaluation of the 5 hectare kimberlite pipe with the objective of determining the diamond grade and value with confidence whilst simultaneously generating cash flow to cover the costs of this evaluation exercise.
Baoulé, which has open pit mine potential, is located in the heart of the Aredor diamond district of Guinea which has historically yielded very large, high value diamonds from alluvial mining. Stellar has modelled an internal resource estimate of 22 million tonnes for Baoulé containing 3.3 million carats at +1.25mm grade of 15cpht. The target diamond value, assuming large special stones are recovered, is US$200/ct.
Amongst its pipeline of projects Stellar also holds the Droujba kimberlite pipe to the south east of Baoulé in Guinea. Stellar has defined a high grade (80 to 100cpht) 2.5 million carat resource over the Droujba pipe and a further 448,000 carat resource (at 140cpht) along a 0.5km section of the 5 km long Katcha dyke, for a combined project resource of 3 million carats. There is significant scope for an increase in diamond resource through drilling out more of the high-grade Katcha kimberlite.
In addition, the Company holds a mining licence over the Mandala alluvial diamond mine, where mining between 2009 and 2011 produced over 128,000 carats at an average grade of 0.49 carats / m?. The remaining resource is estimated at 200,000 carats. Both the Droujba and Mandala projects are currently on care and maintenance whilst the Baoulé trial mining evaluation continues.
Following the establishment of a joint venture in December 2013 over a 1km? exploration licence which incorporates the five hectare diamondiferous Baoulé kimberlite pipe in the Aredor region of central Guinea, Stellar commenced the treatment of weathered kimberlite ore for a 100,000 tonne trial mining evaluation programme in October 2014. During 14 months of actual production over 11,000 carats have been recovered from this large scale bulk sampling project to date. once the target of 100,000 dry tonnes has been processed a preliminary resource estimate will be prepared which will determine the next phase for this project.
BAOULE KIMBERLITE PIPE
An in-house geological modelling exercise has been carried out using the previous drilling data which suggests a target of over 22 million tonnes to a depth of 300m (non-JORC). At the current evaluation grade of this would suggest a diamond resource of approximately 3 million carats contained within the 22 million tonnes.
An in-house geological modelling exercise has been carried out using the previous drilling which suggests a target of over 22 million tonnes to a depth of 300m (non-JORC). At the current evaluation grade of 13.4cpht (+1.25mm cut off) this would suggest a diamond resource of approximately 3 million carats contained within the 22 million tonnes.BAOULE evalUATION STRATEGY
Stellar believes the previous limited bulk sampling was not fully representative of such a large pipe in an area renowned for its large top gem quality stones recovered from downstream alluvial deposits. As part of the Joint Venture Agreement, the Company relocated its 100tph DMS plant with Flowsort final recovery from Mandala to Baoulé together with the crushing sections of the former Droujba bulk sampling plant which were then modified and integrated to process the weathered kimberlite as part of a trial mining exercise. The objective has been to not only determine the grade and value with confidence but also assist Stellar with cash flow for the evaluation work. Furthermore, the previous diamond value was based on a relatively small parcel which contained no recorded large diamonds, which was sold over 13 years ago.
The Baoulé kimberlite is one of the largest (5Ha) of the potentially large stone, primary sources in Guinea and in order to estimate the diamond population of the entire kimberlite a suitably large bulk sample must be extracted.
CURRENT WORK PROGRAMME
Between October 2014 and June 2015 approximately 50,000 dry tonnes were extracted and processed from the East lobe of the Baoulé kimberlite. Preparation of the west lobe commenced following a hiatus during the height of the wet season (mid 2015). By November 2015, mining and processing of the west lobe kimberlite was well underway. To date some 43,000 dry tonne has been treated from this lobe.Over 11,000 carats have been recovered to date realising in a gross revenue in excess of US$ 1 million. The largest diamond recovered to date weighs 55 carats, which although of low quality, does indicate a large stone potential for this pipe.
SUMMARY OF DIAMOND SALES FROM THE BAOULE KIMBERLITE
Stellar has held three diamond sales totalling 8,465 carats which realised over US$1 million in revenue.
The average diamond price between the sales varies from US$92 to $156 per carat depending on the mix and presence of larger gem quality stones. Some high value gems are present, including a 10 carat fancy yellow which sold for an average price of $6,800 per carat.
A selection of the diamonds sold during the three sales events are shown in the photos below:In its pipeline of additional projects Stellar holds a 7km? licence in south east Guinea which covers the high grade Droujba kimberlite pipe and adjacent high grade kimberlite dyke, Katcha, as well as 118km? of neighbouring prospective ground. A JORC compliant inferred resource of just under 3 million carats is established for the project to date.
DROUJBA
In 2012 Stellar, following the execution of a phased exploration programme, completed a preliminary evaluation of the Droujba pipe, and delivered an Inferred Maiden Resource Statement (JORC compliant) of 2.5 million carats to a depth of 360m from surface. This root zone, hypabyssal kimberlite has a surface bulk sample grade of 88 cpht with a currently modelled diamond value of US$45 per carat and an in-situ value of US$40 per ton.
The Droujba project has been placed on care and maintenance whilst Stellar focusses efforts at Baoulé. As diamond prices continue to increase the economics of the Droujba project will be reviewed.
KATCHA
Adjacent to the Droujba pipe is the 5km long Katcha kimberlite dyke. A drilling and bulk sampling programme during 2012 has resulted in the inclusion of an additional 446,000 carats being brought into the Inferred Resource category, resulting in a combined resource of 2,929,000 carats (JORC compliant). The resource grade for Katcha has been calculated at 140 cpht with an average modelled diamond value of US$57 suggesting an in-situ value of US$80 / ton. droujba_project Droujba Project
In its pipeline of additional projects Stellar holds a 7km? licence in south east Guinea which covers the high grade Droujba kimberlite pipe and adjacent high grade kimberlite dyke, Katcha, as well as 118km? of neighbouring prospective ground. A JORC compliant inferred resource of just under 3 million carats is established for the project to date.
DROUJBA
In 2012 Stellar, following the execution of a phased exploration programme, completed a preliminary evaluation of the Droujba pipe, and delivered an Inferred Maiden Resource Statement (JORC compliant) of 2.5 million carats to a depth of 360m from surface. This root zone, hypabyssal kimberlite has a surface bulk sample grade of 88 cpht with a currently modelled diamond value of US$45 per carat and an in-situ value of US$40 per ton.
The Droujba project has been placed on care and maintenance whilst Stellar focusses efforts at Baoulé. As diamond prices continue to increase the economics of the Droujba project will be reviewed.
KATCHA
Adjacent to the Droujba pipe is the 5km long Katcha kimberlite dyke. A drilling and bulk sampling programme during 2012 has resulted in the inclusion of an additional 446,000 carats being brought into the Inferred Resource category, resulting in a combined resource of 2,929,000 carats (JORC compliant). The resource grade for Katcha has been calculated at 140 cpht with an average modelled diamond value of US$57 suggesting an in-situ value of US$80 / ton.
The initial 446,000 carat resource for Katcha was established over only a 470m strike length to 150m depth. There is therefore considerable potential for a much larger resource over the Katcha dyke to be established through drilling the full 5km length to a depth of 300m.Stellar holds a 14km? Semi Industrial mining license in south east Guinea, covering a high grade alluvial deposit which can be attributed to the erosion of the surrounding Bouro kimberlite dykes.
MANDALA
Between 2009 and 2011 Stellar mined some 128,000 carats at a grade of approximately 31 cpht with sales of US$3.9 million being achieved. The diamonds from Mandala are mostly of so-called “Indian goods”, with a relatively low average value of approximately US$35-45 per carat. However, the component of quality of the gem goods is high with some good whites and fancies being valued at between US$2,000 to US$4,000 per carat (including a 36 carat yellow stone valued at US$150,000). Stellar placed Mandala on care and maintenance in 2011 due to prevailing weak diamond prices.