Malcolm Bertoni's Online Book.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Interesting.  Some of the mining guys thought that the sand overburden was where a lot of the bigger diamonds were.  Dont know how true this was but there must have been a grain of truth in it. 

I also believe that they did some tests of the old No 4 plant tailings and found plenty of diamonds.  Wonder how much got washed into the sea as the dumps all went into the sea.  As you say Gordon, just like the old screening plants.  Also the old Wedag Wheels couldnt have been very efficient either . . . .

[Gordon Brown]

For those with a technical bent and interest in the matallurgical history of No. 4 Plant, Malcolm and I can reiterate that '4'Plant was not known as such until 1969/70 when it started to treat run-of-mine ore in its own right. Prior to that it was regarded as a diamond recovery or HMS plant, built to treat the concentrates produced by the field screening plants. The first field screening plant was constructed in 1948 and a further 17 followed in the next sixteen years. The 'No 4Plant' recovery unit initially used primary and secondary Plietz jigs to treat the screening plant concentrated delivered to it in the earlier days by rail and later on by road. In 1952, these Plietz jigs were replaced by a heavy media cone and the first grease belts were introduced in 1953. Ball mills were brought on stream from 1954. A much larger grease belt and electrostatic precipitators section was added in 1959. In 1964 a new HMS Plant was commissioned containing two huge and costly to run Wedag wheels. Also in that year Juba jigs were added to the field screening plants. They weren't very efficient. In 1970, No4 Plant became a run-of-mine ore treatment plant as well with the commissioning of a newly constructed crushing, screening and milling complex. The boulder bounce section was brought on strea in 1973, and the 81TT tailings treatment plant in 1978/79

[Michael Alexander]

One wonders if all the material treated prior to 1970 was then retreated, or are there still diamonds in the area\'s that they geologists think have already been mined.... Only the retired Old timers would know this....

[Gordon Brown]

Mike, most of the screening plant concentrates treated at No4 Plant ended up in the 81TT tailings dump. This huge discard dump was retreated from 1978/79 onward when the tailings treatment plant came on stream. I do believe that there are still payable diamond gravels to be found in some of the overburden dumps, especially in Area 'G' where the larger diamonds are to be found.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

I know that most of the bigger diamonds were from area G and of course the overburden would have contained diamonds as well. 

When I came to Aus I worked at Argyle Diamond Mines in norther Wester Australia for 2 years in 83-84. John Mack was the plant sup at the time and I met Jeff Quinton there. The  mine was the alluvial diggings that was mined before the main Kimberlite pipe was.  I went back again for 4 months in 1993 while I was studying for my Science degree and ran a 15 tph HMS that was sampling the old alluvial tailings dumps and we found enough diamonds to run a viable and cost effective mine on its own.  The largest diamond recovered was around 12+ carats!!!!!  So even with newer techology the recovery process can be very dodgy.

[Michael Alexander]

Congrats to Malcolm, I received an email from him letting me know that his book has been accepted for publishing..... hope it goes well!   

[Gordon Brown]

Good one Malcolm. Let us know details of publishers, ISBN number etcetera so that we can go out and purchase a copy. Kindest regards
Gordon

[Michael Alexander]

Here is the draft Flyer.... Awesome stuff Malcolm.....

[Michael Alexander]

Malcolms book has arrived "home" and will be on sale in SPAR in the next day or so...... All I can say is Wow!, if you are into a bit of tales and local history......

Great work Malcolm!

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for my book, Mike brought it by this evening  opened the book started reading and my wife had to pull me out of it. Great stuff got to page 42 can't wait to continue.


Greatings Alfred

[Michael Alexander]

Yep! Yep! Good stuff..... any of you old timers out there, you will enjoy this book!!!!! 

[Michael Alexander]

It's now 17h22, we put the books out on the shelf at 11h00 and 11 have sold so far....at N$130.00 each...

Congrats Malcolm!   

[Bertie Horak]

Is the book for sale in other shops too, closer to me?  Or did Mike claim them all? 

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for my book, Mike brought it by this evening  opened the book started reading and my wife had to pull me out of it. Great stuff got to page 42 can't wait to continue.


Greatings Alfred

Malcolm I picked the book up at 4 this afternoon just put it down got to page 140 excellent book tomorrow morning I think I will finish it maybe before breakfast.

Congrats Malcolm

Alfred

[Michael Alexander]

Well! Well! Well! Congratulations to Malcolm and his book, 24 hrs, and the 30 copies you sent are sold out, I could not believe it.....

I have only managed to keep back 3 for the reunion..... the rest were snatched up......