Botswana Diamonds has said that its pioneering geophysical work has identified what is believed to be kimberlite pipes buried at shallow depth on the Company's Thorny River ground in South Africa.

The Company said that the targets identified are very similar to the pipe that constituted the high-grade and famous De Beers Marsfontein mine, in so much as the pipe had little surface indication due to dolerite rock cover but grew and swelled below the dolerite.

While conventional geophysical techniques have been unable to detect kimberlites under the dolerite, Subterrane, a partner using its proprietary technology, enables the company to explore geophysical anomalies beneath the dolerite has led to the identification of five such target areas within the Thorny River project according to Botswana Diamonds.

John Teeling, chairman, commented, "It has long been held that there should be high grade kimberlite pipes other than the Marsfontein mine in the Thorny River area. The geology made discovery difficult. New geophysical technology tries to see through the dense dolerite cover. The company pioneering the work, Subterrane, believe they have identified 5 targets likely to be kimberlites. We are working to better define where to drill. The targets are shallow so will not be expensive to drill.”