Alrosa reports diamond reserves at 631 mln carats in first ever JORC audit
MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Alrosa reported diamond reserves at 631 million carats in its first ever reserves and resources audit to JORC standards.
The world's biggest diamond miner said in a statement that independent consultant Micon International Co. Ltd performed the audit, which covered all major deposits of Alrosa, representing about 70% of the company's Russian mineral resource base, based on the Russian resource classification.
The company said that as of January 1, 2012, it had JORC-compliant reserves of 631 million carats, with an average grade of 1.31 carats per tonne, and the resources of 968 million carats, 68% of which were of the measured and indicated categories, with an average grade of 1.31 carats per tonne.
Alrosa intends to provide updates of the reserve audit on a periodic basis and also expand the scope of JORC-compliant audit to include other deposits in the future.
Reserves and resources at Alrosa's major assets as of January 1, 2012:
| Category | Tonnage (kt) | Grade (ct/t) | Carats (kct) |
| Reserves | |||
| Proven | 5,569 | 1,69 | 9,393 |
| Probable | 474,063 | 1,31 | 621,162 |
| Total reserves | 479,632 | 1,31 | 630,555 |
| Resources | |||
| Measured | 5,569 | 1,69 | 9,393 |
| Indicated | 493,790 | 1,31 | 646,513 |
| Inferred | 237,715 | 1,31 | 311,616 |
| Total resources, inclusive of reserves | 737,074 | 1,31 | 967,522 |
Alrosa's stake in Catoca Mining in Angola was not included in the audit.
The Alrosa group, which in addition to OJSC Alrosa also includes Alrosa Nyurba , Almazy Anabara, Severalmaz and 32.8% stake in Angola's Catoca, expects sales to grow 3% to $4.59 billion in 2012. The company plans to produce 34.4 million carats of rough diamonds.
