Orapa Diamond Mine

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Orapa is situated 240km west of Francistown in Botswana. The word Orapa means “resting place for lions”. Following detailed exploration by De Beers, diamonds were discovered at Orapa in 1967.

The mine began production in July 1971, and a nation awoke to the stunning reality of great wealth and a place on the global map.

Carats mined per year:
Orapa produced 7.575 million carats of diamonds from 8.817 million tonnes treated in 2009 (2008: 16.869 million carats from 18.569 tonnes treated).

Mine type - geology and process:
Orapa is a conventional open-pit mine. The AK1 kimberlite at Orapa intruded Archaean and Karoo Supergroup strata some 93 million years ago.

The kimberlite covers 118 hectares at surface but comprises two individual intrusions that coalesce near the surface. Rocks from all three facies (crater, diatreme, and hypabyssal) have been identified. Current mining levels are contained within the crater-facies units.

In 2007 the mine faced significant mining challenges through a 3 million tonne slope failure, acute shortage of tyres, the late delivery of four new 190 tonne capacity haulers and mining at 200m depth. The concentrate from Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa goes to the multi-storey Completely Automated Recovery Plant (CARP) at Orapa.

Safety and Health:
In 2007 Orapa and Letlhakane mines (which are managed as a unit) recorded seven lost time injuries with a LTIFR of 0,09. The mines were certified ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 compliant in December 2007. A fatality was recorded in February 2008. The LTIFR to end October 2008: 0.23.

Environmental responsibilities include a focus on water conservation, waste management and the management of the Orapa Game Park, which serves as a public recreation area and a source of environmental education for schools from the surrounding communities.

De Beers maintains a 100-bed hospital in Orapa that caters for employees, and acts as a referral hospital for the region. Orapa also provides pre-primary and primary schooling for employees' children.

Planning for closure:
An initial closure plan has been developed. This covers the scope of work that will be required to effect the physical closure of the mine infrastructure. Financial provision is being made to fund the closure work.

Reference for information:
www.debeersgroup.com/en/Exploration-and-mining/Mining-o...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orapa_diamond_mine
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   21°18'55"S   25°23'12"E

Comments

  • In early 1967, after a 12 year search, a team of De Beers geologists found abundant quantities of ilmenite and garnet - two of the chief indicators of diamondiferous kimberlite - near the village of Letlhakane in north-central Botswana. After further exploration, the pipe at Orapa was found later that year.(Source: De Beers) Debswana Diamond Company (De Beers 50%, Botswana Government 50%) is by far the world's largest diamond producer by value. Debswana's diamond mining operations are situated at Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa. The Orapa pipe is the world's second largest diamond-producing kimberlite pipe.
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This article was last modified 14 years ago