The Saxendrift Project was acquired by Rockwell in April 2008. It is located on the south bank of the Orange River in the Herbert district of the Northern Cape Province, some 50 km southwest of Douglas and some 160 km from Kimberley. Rockwell holds a 74% interest in the property. The remaining 26% is held by the Company's Black Economic Empowerment partner.
Saxendrift is adjacent to Wouterspan, which is located on the north bank of the Middle Orange River. The proximity of these projects offers Rockwell the opportunity to maximize existing infrastructure and operational synergies. The operations on the Saxendrift property are currently being expanded with the construction of the Saxendrift Hill Complex which is expected to begin production by March 2013.
At the Saxendrift Mine, a Bulk X-ray pilot project, completed in October 2012, yielded positive results with the set-up costs being repaid from processing old recovery tailings. This technology will now become an integral component of future mine developments. In the first instance, the Bulk X-ray technology will be utilized at the Saxendrift Hill Complex Mine and the Company is assessing the subsequent development of a mine similar to the Saxendrift Hill Complex at the Niewejaarskraal project.
The Company has conducted bulk sampling activities on the Saxendrift Extension project, located some 4 kilometres from the main Saxendrift processing plant. Further bulk sampling work is planned in addition to a drilling programme. The objective remains to develop a better understanding of the Saxendrift Extension's diamond grade and value characteristics and the potential to process materials mined from the Saxendrift Extension at the Saxendrift Complex, hence extending the life of the existing infrastructure.
Geological setting and mineralization:
Alluvial diamond deposits preserved in fluvial-alluvial palaeochannel and deflation gravels (Rooikoppie) in Orange River terraces.
Processing Plant:
| Saxendrift |
Saxendrift Hill Complex (commissioning in March 2013) |
| 130,000 m3 monthly production capacity |
100,000 m3 monthly production capacity |
| Dabmar In-Field Screen (1) |
De-sanding Screen (1) |
| 18ft Rotary-pans (4) |
Scrubber (1) |
| Scrubbers (4) |
Bourevestnik X-Ray Bulk Sorters (2) |
| Flow-sort X-ray machines (10) |
Bourevestnik X-Ray Single Particle Sorters (2) |
Mineral resource/reserve estimates:
The mineral resources at 29 February 2012 were estimated by Rockwell's Group Technical Manager G. Norton, (Pr. Sci. Nat.), a qualified person who is not independent of the Company and reviewed by Dr. T.R. Marshall, (Pr. Sci. Nat.), a qualified person who is independent of the Company and who is responsible for the estimate. Note that Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Saxendrift Mineral Reserves
| Mining Area |
Reserve Classification |
Volume (m3) |
Grade* (ct/100m3) |
Carats |
Value# (USD/ct) |
| Total/Average Saxendrift Mine Probable Reserve (Terrace A) |
8,085,500 |
0.47 |
38,300 |
2,444 |
* At 5mm bottom cut-off
The life-of-mine, based on these Probable Reserves, at the proposed rate of mining of 150,000m3 /month, is estimated at 2.7 years. If the indicated resources are included, with the same parameters as the reserves, then the LoM could be expected to be extended by an additional 0.98 years.
The mineral reserves above are included in the mineral resources below.
Saxendrift Mineral Resources
| Mining Area |
Resource Classification |
Volume (m3) |
Grade* (ct/100m3) |
Value# (USD/ct) |
| Brakfontein Hill Complex |
Indicated |
8,085,500 |
0.47 |
2,444 |
| Saxendrift Hill Complex Terrace B2 |
Indicated |
1,774,600 |
1.15 |
| Total/Average Saxendrift Mine Indicated |
9,860,100 |
0.59 |
2,444 |
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| Brakfontein Hill Complex |
Inferred |
705,200 |
0.47 |
2,444 |
| Saxendrift Hill Complex Terrace B2 |
Inferred |
86,000 |
0.68 |
| Kwartelspan prospect |
Inferred |
500,000 |
1.00 |
| Total/Average Saxendrift Inferred |
1,291,200 |
0.69 |
2,444 |
* At 5mm cut-off
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