Petra Diamond sees shiny 2017 for the global industry

BHP Billiton is moving forward with the Misery open pit project at its Ekati diamond mine in Canada, expecting to start producing […]

Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (TSX: MPV, NY-AMEX: MDM) today announced the results of an updated independent valuation of the diamonds recovered from the Gahcho Kué Project. The valuation was conducted by WWW International Diamond Consultants Ltd. and took place at the London offices of the Diamond Trading Company in early April, 2011. All diamond values presented below are based on the WWW Price Book as at April 11, 2011. Importantly, for the first time, the Gahcho Kué diamonds were grouped into larger parcels, each parcel representing diamonds from the Hearne, Tuzo and the separate lobes of the 5034 kimberlite. In the opinion of WWW, grouping of the diamonds into larger parcels increased the accuracy of the diamond valuation. Image by Mountain Province Diamonds

Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reports that BHP Billiton, 80%-owner of the Ekati mine in the Northwest Territories, will make a $400 million investment to expand the mine. The Australian mega-miner says its decision was based on higher diamond prices buoyed by healthy demand. Mining at the Misery deposit would start in late 2015 and last for two years.

De Beers announced that it will sell the Namaqualand diamond mine in South Africa to Trans Hex for 225 million Rand ($33.5 million). The sale joins a number of low producing diamond mines the company has sold in South Africa in the past few years. No details about the transaction were made available, and it’s not clear if this is a cash-only agreement. The timeline of the agreement is not known either, though in the past the approval of the South African government was needed, which may determine the ownership transfer.

De Beers Consolidated Mines ("DBCM") today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell Namaqualand Mines to Trans Hex in a transaction valued at R225 million. The agreement to sell the mine to Trans Hex follows an open and rigorous selection process that evaluated prospective bidders on a number of criteria determined by DBCM as critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Namaqualand Mines community.

Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPV, NY-AMEX: MDM) today announced the results of an updated independent valuation of the diamonds recovered from the Gahcho Kué Project. The valuation was conducted by WWW International Diamond Consultants Ltd. and took place at the London offices of the Diamond Trading Company in early April, 2011. All diamond values presented below are based on the WWW Price Book as at April 11, 2011. Importantly, for the first time, the Gahcho Kué diamonds were grouped into larger parcels, each parcel representing diamonds from the Hearne, Tuzo and the separate lobes of the 5034 kimberlite. In the opinion of WWW, grouping of the diamonds into larger parcels increased the accuracy of the diamond valuation.

Vaaldiam Mining Inc. (TSX:VAA) is pleased to report that Flemish Gold Corp. has closed a private placement of $10 million through BMO Capital Markets on May 3, 2011. Vaaldiam owns 10,625,000 common shares of Flemish. The private placement consisted of 10 million units priced at C$1.00. Each unit included one common share and one warrant to buy one share at $1.20 for 24 months. Flemish expects to go public in 2011 and now has 57.3 million common shares issued. Image by Valldiam Resources Ltd.

Shear Diamonds Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:SRM) today announced the commencement of its spring drilling program at its 100% owned Jericho Diamond Project, Nunavut. The first drill hole within the Jericho open pit into the Jericho Kimberlite Complex has been completed and intersected more kimberlite than expected based on the past models.. As part of the ongoing exploration program (see news release February 28, 2011), a series of six angled delineation drill holes have been planned to test areas of the Jericho Kimberlite Complex where it is felt that additional data points are required and to determine the potential for increased tonnage.

Talmora Diamond Inc. (CNSX:TAI) is pleased to announce that it proposes to complete a part brokered and part non-brokered private placement of up to 25,000,000 Units, comprised of at least 20,000,000 Hard Dollar Units and up to 5,000,000 Flow-Through Units at $0.05 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000. The private placement is expected to close not later than May 16, 2011.