Calibre strikes high-grade gold near Valentine mine build as production nears
The Valentine project, 85% complete as of this month, remains on track to pour its first gold in the second quarter next year.
Executives and shareholders of Mountain Province Diamonds (TSX:MPV) had reason to celebrate with the release of an operational update yesterday that highlighted the discovery of two significant diamonds, including the largest recovered to date from its Gahcho Kué mine, which opened last September in the Canadian far north.
The TSX and NASDAQ-listed company said it unearthed two gems, one at 53.9 carats and the other at 84.65 carats, from Gahcho Kué in April.
“The 84.65 carat diamond is the largest gem quality diamond recovered to date and provides further confirmation that Gahcho Kué hosts a population of large, high quality gem diamonds,” Mountain Province President and CEO Patrick Evans said in a statement. “The 53.90 carat diamond is the highest quality exceptional stone recovered to date and is expected to achieve a record price at tender.”
The news popped MPV’s stock by 11.4%, to close at $4.27 a share in Toronto Thursday.
The diamond finds eclipsed Mountain Province’s last big discovery in February of a 67.87-carat, gem-quality octahedron rock, unearthed during production ramp-up.
As one of the world’s 10 largest diamond mines, Gahcho Kué is forecast to produce about 4.5 million carats a year over its estimated 12-year life span. The mine, a joint venture between De Beers Canada (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%), is a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites, three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 34.3 million tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne for total diamond content of 53.7 million carats.
Also in its operational update, Mountain Province Diamonds said it has received a waiver from all seven participants in its loan facility, and that it has approved a US$19 million budget for winterizing conveyor systems and expanding dust mitigation systems. The money is expected to reduce cold weather downtime and increase efficiencies at the operation.
