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The Bonte Koe Mine, South Africa
The Bonte Koe mine covers an area of approximately 25 square kilometres along the Buffels River in Namaqualand, a region that has been a significant diamond producing area for the past 40 years. Mining operations in the area have produced an estimated total of over 3 million carats, with an estimated current value of over $750 million. The Buffels River area produces diamonds with an average size of approximately 0.4 carats per stone and a value of over $200 per carat.
Firestone used its plant and infrastructure at Bonte Koe to process gravel mined by De Beers on a toll-treatment basis until the end of 2008. The plant and infrastructure are currently being refurbished for use at the company's BK11 kimberlite development project in Botswana.
