15 October 2020
Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. today announces production results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020 from the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine. All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
Q3 Highlights
(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)
•9,880,757 total tonnes mined, a 16% decrease on comparable period (Q3 2019: 11,742,138).
•889,340 ore tonnes mined, an 11% decrease on comparable period (Q3 2019: 1,004,828).
•821,049 ore tonnes treated, an 8% decrease on comparable period (Q3 2019: 890,325).
•1,794,408 carats recovered at an average grade of 2.19 carats per tonne, a 17% increase on comparable quarter (Q3 2019: 1,528,494 carats at 1.72).
Q3 2020 Production Figures
The variance in the latest quarterly production figures compared to same period last year, and specifically the total ore and waste tonnes mined, continue to be affected as a direct result of the impacts of COVID-19 on mine operations. As previously announced, reduced levels of personnel, travel restrictions to and from site, revised health and safety protocols on site, and new operating procedures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 are some of the key driving factors in the lower production figures.
However, and on a more positive note, the latest quarterly productions figures are significantly better than what was achieved during Q2 2020 as mine operations have started to adapt to the new protocols in place. The higher total carats and grade in Q3 2020 can be attributed to the mining and treatment of 5034 pit.