The world's top diamond producer by output, Alrosa (MCX:ALRS), published this week an updated estimate of its Joint Ore Reserves Committee or JORC reserves and resources.
“The JORC Code-compliant report from Micon's independent experts estimated Alrosa's diamond resources and reserves as of 1 July 2018 at 1,064 million carats and 628 million carats, respectively,” the miner said in a press release.
With offices both in the United Kingdom and in Canada, Micon is an independent firm of geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists, and environmental consultants.
To run its estimate, Micon considered Alrosa’s assets located within the Russian Federation. Such properties include both operating mines and processing plants, and projects at various stages of development.
Mirny, Sakha Republic, Russia, November 14, 2013. Photo by Alrosa.
In detail, the report includes an evaluation of the deposits developed by the company’s four principal divisions, the Udachny, Aikhal, Mirny and Nyurba mining and processing divisions, and also by the subsidiary mining companies, PAO Severalmaz, and AO Almazy Anabara. Alrosa asked the consultants to exclude the operations of Catoca Ltd. Mining Co. in Angola, in which it has a 32.8% share.
The reserves estimate also excludes the Mir underground mine, located in eastern Siberia, where operations were suspended in August 2017, after water flooded into the mine shaft from the open-cast above trapping 151 people. The mine’s resources only were declared.
On the positive side, Micon reported an increase in reserves and resources indicated for Aikhal and International underground mines is due to extending the estimate’s perimeter to cover the deeper levels of these mines.
The international mine, which reached full production rate of 500 kt/a in 2002, is located 16 kilometres south-west of the town of Mirny, in...