Key points
- Gravel processing from sub-sample 1A was suspended due to heavy clay contamination impairing the trommel screen and jig operations, until a clay washing section is installed.
- Sample 1, estimated at 37,840 cubic metres, is being dredged on line 2000 west between 1835 and 1550 south in the South Channel of the Maluka Palaeovalley offshore extension, the first of four samples to be dredged over the next 10 months.
- Sample 2 will be dredged in the North Channel, where infill drilling on a 10-metre grid spacing is currently underway.
- Trans Hex International is managing the project and earning a 30% interest by financing US$5 million of exploration, while Ocean retains 42%, with Indomin Resources of Canada and PT Indo Teras of Indonesia holding the remainder.
The first gravel samples from sub-sample 1A have been dredged and delivered to the jig plant for
processing. The gravels were heavily contaminated with clay
material which appears to have slumped in from the pit walls.
This excessive clay material severely impairs the operation of the
screening section and consequently also affects the operation of
the jigs. Several attempts were made to reduce the clay and silt
component and to improve the washing capacity of the trommel
screen but with the real danger of losing diamonds it has been
decided to suspend further attempts to process the gravels until a
clay washing section can be installed. The components for this
section have been ordered and when they are installed gravel
processing will resume.
The dredge is continuing to strip overburden over the remaining
section of the first sample trench. Gravel samples excavated to
date have been returned to the trench and will be re-processed
once the clay washing section is operational.
Sample 1, anticipated to be 37,840 cubic metres in size, is
being dredged on the line 2000 west between 1835 and 1550 south in
the South Channel of the offshore extension of the Maluka
Palaeovalley. The sample is the first of four samples that will
be dredged during the next 10 months. Sample 2 will be dredged
in the North Channel where an infill drilling program, on a 10m
metre grid spacing, is now in progress.
Trans Hex International is managing the project and earning a 30% interest by financing US$5 million of exploration. Ocean
will retain a 42% interest in the project with Indomin
Resources of Canada and PT Indo Teras of Indonesia holding the
balance.
