There appears to be new political resolve to mend the relationship between the mining industry and the Department of Mineral Resources, says specialised law firm Malan Scholes director Hulme Scholes. Speaking at the IHS Markit South African Coal Export Conference, in Cape Town, last week, the veteran lawyer noted that, “with the new energy blown into the industry by African National Congress...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Sergey Ivanov, CEO of ALROSA, held talks on diamond-related issues with Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Belgium, and Stephane Fischler, the President of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The parties discussed issues related to the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of diamond trading, as well as coo...Read More
Gobal equity markets have been extremely volatile in recent weeks, extending a frantic sell-off of US stocks, which culminated in the steepest plunge for the Dow Jones Industrial Average in six-and-a-half years.While commodities were not spared from the rout, American multinational investment banking and financial services firm Citigroup says now is the time for investors to add positions in metal...Read More
RAPAPORT... Labrador-grown diamonds? The Year of the Dog is coming up,and we are unleashing insights about how the Chinese New Year will affect thetrade in the Far East. Also, an interview with noted jewelry journalistJennifer Heebner, who shares her experiences from the most recent UScolored-gemstone shows. Listen to the podcast below, or click here: lp.diamonds.net/podcast.Read More
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has started a scoping study to determine the commercial potential of the Thorny River diamond project, which is a consolidation of the Frischgewaagt, Hartbeesfontein and Doornrivier properties, in Limpopo.The six-month study will further refine the volumes of diamonds on site, the grade and the value per tonne of ore. A critical aspect...Read More
RAPAPORT... Lastmonth, dozens gathered in midtown Manhattan to learn more about De Beers'Diamond Blockchain Initiative - a project that aims to underpin confidence indiamonds by creating permanent records for them. While most know blockchain asthe technology that underlies Bitcoin, De Beers is testing a system that willsafeguard stones' identity, ownership, contracts and financing history. In fact...Read More
RAPAPORT... Labrador-grown diamonds? The Year of the Dog is coming up,and we are unleashing insights about how the Chinese New Year will affect thetrade in the Far East. Also, an interview with noted jewelry journalistJennifer Heebner, who shares her experiences from the most recent UScolored-gemstone shows.Check out Episode 3 of The Rapaport Diamond Podcast for everything you need to know about t...Read More
Canada-listed Fura Gems (TSX-V:FUR), a new gemstone mining and marketing company headed by former COO of Gemfields (LON:GEM) Dev Shetty, is stepping up efforts to kick off operations at some of its key assets and so take advantage of a growing demand for coloured precious rocks.The company, which began operations less than a year ago, in May 2017, has good reasons to be in a rush. Sales of emeral...Read More
Shares in Africa-focused Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) received a much-needed boost on Wednesday after the miner announced it had has raised ?500,000 (about $695,060 at current rates) to fund ongoing exploration in South Africa and Botswana.The company said the sum was collected through the issue of 50-million shares to new and existing investors at a price of 1p a share.Miner will begin expl...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) has launched a newvideo ad campaign for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang,highlighting the connection between diamonds and athletes. The series, called "The Making of a Gem," features videos ofa diamond-wearing snowboarder, an ice-skating pair and and a women's hockey team inaction. The series aims to demonstrate the similarities betwe...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Israeli government has pledged $284 million (NIS 1 billion) to guarantee bank loans to diamond companies in an effort to easethe trade's severe credit difficulties. A lack of credit is stifling growth, especially among the smallerfirms that constitute about 70% of the Israeli trade, according to a specialcommittee set up to investigate the sector's challenges. The team - led...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR), part of De Beers Group, has installed a 34.8 kilowatt solar roof (pictured above) at its grading and inscription facility in Surat, India, to provide the operation with a renewable energy supply. Generating an average of 56,000 units of electricity each year, the solar plant will reduce the heat load of t...Read More
VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – Mountain Province Diamonds' first diamond tender of the year broke all records in terms of revenue and customer activity.The TSX- and Nasdaq-listed company said the sale of 351 000 ct of rough diamonds has resulted in Mountain Province's highest revenue result to date, with total sale proceeds of $27.3-million, which gives an average value of $78/ct.Adv...Read More
RAPAPORT... Gem Diamonds has appointed Kelebone Leisanyane as CEO of Let??engDiamonds, the miner said last week. Leisanyane, the former CEO of the Lesotho National Development Corporation,took over the position from Jeff Leaver in January. Leaver will continue towork for Let??eng in an advisory capacity. Let??eng Diamonds owns and operates the Let??eng mine, in which Gem Diamonds holds a 70% stake...Read More
(IDEX Online) - More than 90% of the exhibitors who participated in the inaugural CARAT+ 2017 will be taking part in the May 2018 event. The latest figures reveal high-levels of satisfaction among exhibitors and a shared commitment to make CARAT+ the most successful diamond event in the world, according to show Founder and Event Director, Filip Van Laere. The second edition of CARAT...Read More
RAPAPORT... Jewelers dismissed a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report which claimed companies and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) did not provide sufficient ethical sourcing guarantees."We have reviewed the Human Rights Watch report and reject the suggestion that RJC has got 'flawed' standards, governance and certification systems," Gerhard Humphreys-de Meyer, communications coordinator for the...Read More
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has raised £500 000 to fund ongoing exploration in South Africa and Botswana.The funds were raised through the issue of 50-million shares to new and existing investors at a price of 1p a share.AdvertisementThe company, which is led by MD James Campbell, on Tuesday said it and joint venture partner Alrosa had started explora...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) has launched a newvideo ad campaign for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang,highlighting the connection between diamonds and athletes. The series, called "The Making of a Gem," features videos ofa diamond-wearing snowboarder, an ice-skating pair and and a women's hockey team inaction. The series aims to demonstrate the similarities betwe...Read More
Emeryville, California: February 14, 2018 - Diamond traceability back to the mine of origin - vital to the international due diligence movement for precious gems and minerals - just took a giant step forward. SCS Global Services, an internationally recognized certification body and standards developer, is pleased to announce that its diamond provenance certification program now incorporates advanc...Read More
Pallinghurst Resources's precious gemstones miner Gemfields is standing up to disturbing allegations of human rights abuses at the company's Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique, and disclosed it's now target of a legal claim on behalf of 29 locals.The company, the world's top coloured gems producer, accounting for roughly a third of the global supply of emeralds and rubies, revealed that human right...Read More