Stellar Diamonds Preparing to Start Trial Mining at Baoule

Stellar Diamonds plc (LSE:STEL) announced that it has started commissioning testing of the 100-tonne-per-hour DMS plant at its Guinea-based Baoule kimberlite project. Trial mining is expected in October 2014.

Highlights include:

• 100tph processing plant constructed on schedule at 5ha Baoulé kimberlite pipe
• Waste stripping and ore extraction for stockpiling has commenced
• Objective to process at least 100,000 tonnes for diamond grade and value estimation
• Internal resource statement targeted for Q4 2014
• First cash flow expected from diamond sales in Q4 2014
• Project located in heart of world famous Aredor diamond district – a large and high value diamond producing area

Karl Smithson, chief executive of Stellar, commented:

I am delighted that our team at Baoulé is continuing to deliver on schedule resulting in our processing plant now being fully constructed ahead of imminent trial mining. Commissioning is underway to establish the optimal operating parameters for the 100tph plant, after which the first kimberlite ore will be processed. Our objective is to process a very large sample which will not only establish the diamond grades and values with high levels of confidence, but also determine the presence of any large stones for which the Aredor region of Guinea is world renowned. During this process any diamonds produced from trial mining will be sold in order to generate cash flow for the Company. I look forward to providing further progress updates at this exciting time as we look to commence trial mining in the coming weeks and transition Stellar into a diamond producer.

Click here to read the full Stellar Diamonds plc (LSE:STEL) press release.