Alluvial diamond resource potential and production capacity assessment of Mali
Scientific Investigations Report
2010-5044
Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres and the Direction Nationale de la Geologie et des Mines under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State
By: Peter G. Chirico, Francis Barthelemy, and Fatiaga Kone
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Abstract
In May of 2000, a meeting was convened in Kimberley, South Africa, and attended by representatives of the diamond industry and leaders of African governments to develop a certification process intended to assure that rough, exported diamonds were free of conflictual concerns. This meeting was supported later in 2000 by the United Nations in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly. By 2002, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was ratified and signed by diamond-producing and diamond-importing countries. Over 70 countries were included as members of the KPCS at the end of 2007. To prevent trade in "conflict diamonds" while protecting legitimate trade, the KPCS requires that each country set up an internal system of controls to prevent conflict diamonds from entering any imported or exported shipments of rough diamonds. Every diamond or diamond shipment must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process (KP) certificate and be contained in tamper-proof packaging. The objective of this study was (1) to assess the naturally occurring endowment of diamonds in Mali (potential resources) based on geological evidence, previous studies, and recent field data and (2) to assess the diamond-production capacity and measure the intensity of mining activity. Several possible methods can be used to estimate the potential diamond resource. However, because there is generally a lack of sufficient and consistent data recording all diamond mining in Mali and because time to conduct fieldwork and accessibility to the diamond mining areas are limited, four different methodologies were used: the cylindrical calculation of the primary kimberlitic deposits, the surface area methodology, the volume and grade approach, and the content per kilometer approach. Approximately 700,000 carats are estimated to be in the alluvial deposits of the Kenieba region, with 540,000 carats calculated to lie within the concentration grade deposits. Additionally, 580,000 carats are estimated to have been released from the primary kimberlites in the region. Therefore, the total estimated diamond resources in the Kenieba region are thought to be nearly 1,300,000 carats. The Bougouni zones are estimated to have 1,000,000 carats with more than half, 630,000 carats, contained in concentrated deposits. When combined, the Kenieba and Bougouni regions of Mali are estimated to be host to 2,300,000 carats of diamonds.
Suggested Citation
Chirico, P., Barthelemy, F., and Kone, F., 2010, Alluvial diamond resource potential and production capacity assessment of Mali (Originally posted on April 7, 2010; French translation November 18, 2013): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5044, iv, 23 p.; Rapport PDF en français, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20105044.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
ISSN: 2328-031X (print)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Alluvial diamond resource potential and production capacity assessment of Mali |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2010-5044 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20105044 |
| Edition | Originally posted on April 7, 2010; French translation November 18, 2013 |
| Year Published | 2010 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | National Center |
| Description | iv, 23 p.; Rapport PDF en français |
| First page | i |
| Last page | 23 |
| Country | Mali |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |