Heritage Cases

The current land use is grazing, with a low stocking rate for the region. If the mining operation does not continue, the farming of sheep and game will persist. The most significant activity associated with grazing is the provision of water. This could have a potential impact on the existing surface water features and ground water resource. Therefore alternative water sources are needed. Existing boreholes will be used as a substitute to provide water for animals. The mining operation will not abstract any ground water, while this alternative land use will require the use of ground water. Cumulative impacts associated to grazing include overgrazing, with a potential of desertification. The mining method of open pits with continued backfilling is the only economic viable method currently being used by the diamond fraternity. There is no alternative mining method for the mining of alluvial diamonds. The mining operation is based on alluvial diamond mine reserves which will be mined by means of an opencast method using heavy earth-moving machinery and occasional blasting. The ore will then be treated through a 4 pan plant. The diamondiferous ore will be screened, scrubbed, crushed and processed on site. The rough diamond product will then be removed from site for further beneficiation. The mining method involves a continuous backfilling open cast mining process. Topsoil will be stripped and hauled to already backfilled areas. If there are no backfilled areas available immediately, topsoil be temporarily stockpiled on the surface for later use. No materials will be permanently dumped on the surface. Washed and screened material will be backfilled into the already mined out areas and will be covered with the overburden and topsoil that has been allocated for this purpose.