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Walter Muchinguri Assistant Business Editor
Murowa Diamonds recorded a seven percent increase in diamonds recovered during the fourth quarter of 2014, to 130 000 carats from 116 000 carats in the third quarter.
According to Rio Tinto’s fourth quarter 2014 operations review the increase was influenced by an increase in ore processed. Ore processed at the mine jumped from 153 000 tonnes in the third quarter to 160 000 tonnes during the quarter under review.
As a result the diamonds recovered at Murowa for the full year were 442 000 carats up from 414 000 carats a year earlier. Ore processed during 2014 increased to 59 000 tonnes from 564 000 tonnes a year earlier. Murowa, which is 78 percent owned by Rio Tinto is one of the three diamond mines under the mining giant’s portfolio that includes Argyle in Australia, which is the largest of the three and Diavik in Canada which is the second largest.
Rio Tinto owns 100 percent of Argyle and 60 percent of Diavik. The three diamond mines’s combined production for the fourth quarter fell 20 percent to 2,8 million carats from 3,5 million carats in the third quarter and by 37 percent compared to the 4th quarter of 2013.
Murowa Mine is located near Zvishavane in the Midlands Province.
Online Reporter