Accident suspends DiamondCorp mining at Lace

18th Jul 2016 14:20

(ShareCast News) - Southern African diamond mining, development and exploration company DiamondCorp announced on Monday that diamond mining operations at the Lace mine have been temporarily suspended following an investigation on 15 July by the South African Department of Minerals Resources into a fall of ground incident in a development tunnel, on the 310 metre level.The AIM-traded firm said the incident occurred when explosive misfires were being made safe, and resulted in a miner's assistant suffering contusions and four cracked ribs.He was hospitalised for observation and is in a stable condition, DiamondCorp reported."The outcome of the investigation was an instruction that all miner's assistants undertake refresher training in the handling and charging up of explosives," its board said in a statement."This training commenced over the weekend and is scheduled to be completed by 20 July."DiamondCorp said that once the assistants are re-certified, the company will apply to the Department of Minerals Resources to resume underground operations, which is expected by the end of the week."In the meantime, the plant at Lace will process tailings."The company claimed there would be no material financial impact as a result of the temporary suspension, although it would not be able to mine the target of 30,000 tonnes of ore in July.Its management expects to achieve that rate in August and will aim to make up the July shortfall by the end of September."The company is pleased that the incident did not result in any more serious or life threatening injuries and reiterates that safety is its top priority," the board said."Lace management is fully supportive of the refresher training."