Smoke creek

The Smoke Creek alluvial diamond mining project is a down-drainage operation of the worlds largest single diamond deposit at Argyle in Western Australia. The deposit covers an area of 11 kilometres of unmined diamond bearing gravel that drains from the Rio Tinto Argyle AK1 diamond pipe. Diamond production at Smoke Creek is underway and the processing plant constructed and operating.

Kimberley Diamonds Acquire Smoke Creek From Venus Metals

In February 2014 Kimberley Diamond Limited finalised the purchase of the Smoke Creek alluvial diamond mine from Venus Metals. The project in the East Kimberley Region of Western Australia consists of 22 prospecting licences and one mining lease application. The deposit has a JORC resource of 21 million tonnes for six million carats.

Smoke Creek Mine to Become a Co-miner With Ellendale Diamond Mine

Kimberley Diamond Limited fully owns Kimberley Diamond Company NL that owns and operates the Ellendale Diamond project in the same region. It is the leading source in the world for rare yellow diamonds, accounting for up to 50 percent of the global demand.

Approvals Required Before Smoke Creek Begins Production

Kimberley Diamonds will be seeking all the necessary approvals from the various authorities before it can go ahead and start mining at their new Smoke Creek acquisition. An alluvial diamond processing plant is to be transported to the site as soon as possible.

Smoke Creek Hosts Diamond Resource Valued at six Million Carats

Venus metals acquired the Smoke Creek licences in 2008 after they were surrendered by Argyle Diamond Mines Pty Ltd, a subsidiary company belonging to Rio Tinto Kimberley Diamond. At the time it was claimed the Smoke Creek project had a diamond resource of six million carats. The mine processed 42 million carats of diamonds between 1982 and 2000.

Smoke Creek Part of Kimberley Diamonds Growth Plans for 2014

The acquisition of the Smoke Creek alluvial diamond project by Kimberley Diamonds is part of the company's plan to double production at its Ellendale diamond mine where it also intends to reopen the previously closed E4 open pit during 2014. The Ellendale mine is currently producing 120,000 carats of diamonds a year from its E9 open pit. This is expected to double when the E4 pit is brought back into production. The same week it acquired the Smoke Creek project and announced the reopening of the E4 pit it also announced it was close to completing the purchase of Mantle Diamonds and the Lerala Diamond Mine. The E4 open pit had been placed on care and maintenance since the global financial crisis in 2008.

Smoke Creek diamond alluvial mining consists of using a hydraulic excavator and front end loader that loads 40 tonne haulage trucks with the diamond bearing gravel so it can be transported to the processing plant. Subject to the required regulatory approvals being granted, treatment of the high grade stockpiles is expected to begin in September 2014.