One of the largest diamond mining companies operating in Chiadzwa, Zimabwe – Anjin Investments, has approached the government seeking new diamond mining concessions as the area it is operating in is fast running out of alluvial gems.
Anjin is a joint venture company between the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (60 percent), Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (10 percent) and a Chinese investor (30 percent). Government sources revealed Anjin representatives approached the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development last week seeking new concessions in response to the company’s falling production levels due to depleted diamond resources.
Since their discovery in 2006, the alluvial diamond deposits, which are usually found on the surface, have been heavily extracted with huge benefits accruing to diamond mining companies, but revenue generated has declined as the resource is depleted.
“It now takes the companies more than four tons of gravel to get only 15 carats of gems, which clearly shows alluvial diamonds have been depleted,” said a source. “The revenue has tremendously declined by as much as 90 percent over the past few months.”
Anjin Director Retired Brigadier Munyaradzi Machacha yesterday confirmed meeting with the ministry, but said the purpose was to seek permission for further exploration in Chiadzwa.
“Mining is a continuous process of exploration and surveys to discover new deposits,” Machacha said. “We are conducting geological surveys on fresh concessions not because diamonds are running out, but to discover more so that we keep on mining.”
It is estimated that Marange diamonds from Chiadzwa mines account for 25 percent of total world deposits, but another source insisted the figure was an over-estimation based on speculative exploration.
“Exploration that took place and the resultant estimations were based on the activities of artisanal miners, and on projections around alluvial deposits,” said the source.
A local geologist told the Zimbabwe Independent that alluvial gems are usually deposited on the surface and extraction involves digging and sifting through mud, sand and gravel using shovels, sieves or even bare hands.
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