Afri-Can Marine Minerals Reports on Progress of Diamond Sampling Vessel
Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation’s contractor, International Mining and Dredging Holding Ltd. (IMDH), has confirmed that conversion of the sampling vessel, DP Sampler, is now approaching completion in JSML Shipyard, Singapore. The MV DP Sampler, which will be renamed, is scheduled to leave Singapore at the end of June. Originally a specialized trenching vessel named DP Trenchsetter, which was acquired by IMDH in December, 2006, DP Sampler is being converted into a dedicated marine sampling vessel. (A picture of the MV DP Sampler prior to conversion is available at the company’s website.) Conversion has taken longer than expected. IMDH initially expected DP Sampler to leave Singapore at the end of March, but high demand for rig building and ship repair has put pressure on yards. DP Sampler, owned and operated by IMDH, is under contract to Afri-Can to perform a sampling program on Afri-Can’s block J concession (see news as reported in Stockwatch Jan. 19, 2006, entitled “Afri-Can signs agreement with an international marine contractor to resume diamond exploration on block J in Namibia”).
Work on the vessel in Singapore is currently focused on installation of the moon pool, the eight-metre by 10-metre opening in the base of the hull for access by sampling equipment to the water below, and the A-frame rated at 140-ton safe working load. Once this final work has been completed, the DP Sampler will sail to Cape Town, South Africa, where the sampling equipment and mineral processing plant are ready to be installed. The ship will then sail to Namibia in mid-September to begin the work program on block J after completion of a testing round. Afri-Can will provide investors with a detailed time schedule following departure of the DP Sampler from the shipyard in Singapore. The aim of the complete surveying and sampling program on block J is to delineate diamond resources on block J in compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
The 105-metre DP Sampler, which has two bow thrusters, a stern thruster and two 60-ton cranes, is equipped with a full Dynamic Positioning II system and a mineral processing plant for diamond recovery. The mineral processing plant comprises a feed preparation module, a primary storage module, a comminution module, a 20-ton-per-hour dense media separation module, a fully integrated X-ray recovery unit, and a final recovery module incorporating a closed loop glove box sorting facility with an integrated safe.
The five-square-metre sampling drill system is capable of operating at water depths of 250 metres and through 12 metres of overburden material, both well in excess of Afri-Can’s requirements. The sampling tool has sufficient capacity to crush footwall, boulders and cobbles in order to access trapped diamond resources, as well as drill through to older gravel concentrations. Importantly, the drive system of the sampler is umbilical, as opposed to a rigid drill pipe system, allowing work to be conducted during even adverse weather conditions. The system is designed to provide precise quantitative sample volumes, which will enable delineation of detailed economic resources, and establishment of mining equipment and technology.
“Conversion of the DP Sampler and the construction of new sampling equipment and treatment plant is a considerable investment for IMDH and we are pleased with their serious commitment. We have maintained our focus on employing the most up to date and efficient technology available for our sampling program on block J. We are confident our program will be successful because the DP Sampler is built to perform to a very high standard,” commented president and chief executive officer of Afri-Can.
