South Africa grants Botswana Diamonds ‘critical’ environmental authorization

Thorny River diamond mine

Botswana Diamonds said Thursday that it had received a “critical” environmental authorization for diamond-bearing gravels from the Marsfontein mine, next to the company’s own Thorny River project in South Africa. The company noted the permission, granted to its associated firm Vutomi, was a critical step towards obtaining a mining permit, which it expected to receive … Read more

Russia’s Alrosa seeks to brighten up its fluorescent diamond sales

Alrosa fluorescence diamond black-light

Russia’s Alrosa is talking to several global jewelery retailers about jointly marketing the miner’s jewelery brand that uses fluorescent diamonds, as it strives to create a new niche for the natural stones. Diamond miners, which have long excelled at marketing, are seeking new approaches to battle falling demand and competition from diamonds manufactured in laboratories. … Read more