Motapa updates bulk sampling progress

Motapa Diamonds Inc. reports that sample processing and diamond recovery has commenced at the Mothae project in Lesotho. An initial 30,000 tonne sample will be processed to determine if the Mothae kimberlite has the potential for high value diamonds similar to those of the nearby Letseng diamond mine. If warranted by results of this initial sampling phase, an additional sample of up to 70,000 tonnes will be processed to provide an estimate of diamond value. The first US$3.8 million of funding requirements for this phase of bulk sampling is being provided by Lucara Diamond Corporation in terms of an option agreement with Motapa.

Full commissioning of the kimberlite processing and diamond recovery plant was completed in February and sample processing has commenced. The initial 30,000 tonnes of kimberlite is being processed in a series of 5,000 to 10,000 tonne samples taken from various kimberlite phases within the 8.8 hectare Mothae pipe. The material is being processed through a dense media separation (DMS) plant which operates at a nominal 30 tonnes per hour. The process plant is designed to recover diamonds in various size fractions ranging from 2 mm to 18 mm. Heavy mineral concentrate produced by the DMS plant is passed through a continuous grease belt for diamond recovery, with the exception of the very coarse fraction (+12mm) which will be hand sorted. The current operating schedule plans for the initial 30,000 tonne sample to be completed by the 3rd quarter of 2008.

Commenting on the sampling program, Motapa’s CEO, Dr. Larry Ott said,: we are pleased to have the plant up and running and greatly look forward to characterizing diamond recovered in this initial sampling phase. We note that this initial sampling phase has a primary focus of determining whether or not high value diamonds are likely to be present. Additional sampling beyond this phase, together with drilling will be required to gain an accurate assessment of diamond grade within the Mothae kimberlite.

The Mothae kimberlite is located 6.5 kilometers from the Letseng diamond mine which is internationally recognized for producing the world’s highest value diamonds. In September 2006, the Letseng mine produced the world’s 15th largest diamond, the Lesotho Promise, which sold as a rough stone for US$12.4 million. Historic work on the Mothae kimberlite has demonstrated that the pipe is diamondiferous but recovered an insufficient number of diamonds to determine diamond value.

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