Many alluvial deposits along the Vaal and Orange Rivers are being exploited at present, but few have such deeply eroded trenches or gullies immediately upstream of large, pronounced ridges of hard rock. Undersigned was not surprised to learn that the trial mining carried out on the site during 1998 had produced such good diamonds. He was however surprised to find out that the mining had not been carried to a depth sufficient to allow the deepest part of the trench gravel to be removed from the bedrock for treatment. Photos 1 to 6 give a view of the 1998 operations, with the excavation machinery and the treatment plant in their positions. NB: The depth of the trench surprised the drillers, as none of the boreholes to the west of the "new quarry" reached bedrock at the base of the gravel, even after some holes had been drilled to depths of 42 metres.

There is no doubt that the new quarry should be extended to the west and south-west, and that adequate machinery be brought to bear to:

Undersigned believes that a large amount of diamonds lies awaiting for the next phase of mining. It is vital, however, to complete the boreholes down to the bedrock and determine the bedrock contours and the shape and position of the trench, in order to plan the excavation properly and then exploit the deepest and the richest material. The diamonds in this "Muirton Porphyry Trench" could be worth a money in the order of +/- R100 million. Diamonds in the upper terrace gravels would be a bonus. A kimberlite fissure may also be present on the property.

G.J. Greeff (Ph.D.) 1 November 1998.

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