8 March 2016
YELLOWKNIFE, NT - March 8, 2016 - Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX: DDC, NYSE: DDC) (the "Company" or "Dominion") is pleased to release an updated reserve and resource statement for the Diavik Diamond Mine.
The tables below summarize the mineral reserves and mineral resources at the Diavik Diamond Mine as at December 31, 2015, expressed in millions of tonnes, carats per tonne, and millions of carats.
The mineral reserves shown here account for all depletions due to production and sampling to December 31, 2015. The mineral reserves also include forecasted mining losses and dilution. Underground mining dilution and losses have been assessed regularly since the production ramp-up began in 2010. Because more than one mining method is underway in the underground mine, dilution and losses are a function of the method used, experience and observation. The future A-21 open pit is expected to have dilution and losses similar to those achieved during Diavik's first decade as an open pit operation.
New data from surveying along with the results of new samples taken in active mining areas were incorporated into the latest reserve and resource models in calendar 2015. There were 3 new samples taken in A-154 South, 16 new samples taken in A-418 and 4 new samples taken in A-154 North. Beyond the active mining areas of A-154 North, a further 53 samples were collected from a drilling campaign to access deeper regions. This resulted in the amount of A-154 North probable reserves more than doubling to approximately 4.7 million tonnes (11.1 million carats) through the promotion of inferred resources and the addition of new kimberlite at depth.
A-21 is in development as an open pit and is on track to commence ore production in the second half of 2018.