DIAMONDS EXPORT – RUSSIA
Russia exported almost 6.65 million carats of diamonds worth more than $414.8 million in the first three months of 2008, the Finance Ministry said. The ministry did not provide similar statistics during 2007, RAPAPORT reported.
At the same time, Russia imported about 65,500 carats of diamonds to a total amount of about $10.2 million.
According to the Finance ministry's report quoted by the Prime-Tass business economic agency, the largest amount of diamonds was sold to Belgium ($227.3 million,) Britain ($78.1 million,) and Israel ($60.3 million.)
Most of the diamond imports were made from Belgium ($6.7 million) and Israel ($2.3 million.)
According to the Federal Customs Service, diamond export from Russia in 2006 decreased by 6.3 percent from 37.3 million carats in 2005 to almost 35 million carats in 2006.

FIRESTONE DIAMONDS – FUNDS – BOTSWANA
Firestone Diamonds plc, a diamond mining and exploration company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market has raised US$10 million that will be used to accelerate evaluation work at the company's BK11, BK16 and Tsabong projects in Botswana, Tacy reported.
The Tsabong kimberlite field is located in south western Botswana, approximately 280 kilometers south west of the Jwaneng mine, and contains 85 known kimberlites, 18 of which have been proven to be diamondiferous.

TRANS HEX – ROUGH DIAMOND – TENDER
Trans Hex reported Wednesday that it sold 11,823 carats for $16.9 million in its July rough diamond tender.  According to RAPAPORT,  the average price achieved at the sale was $1,426 per carat, the South Africa-based diamond mining company said.
 “The 2008 calendar year has seen a significant strengthening in rough diamond prices in all categories but particularly in the large high quality stones which constitute the bulk of the Trans Hex production,” the company noted.
Trans Hex sold 45 stones weighing more than 10 carats at the tender. Six sold for more than $20,000 per carat, among them a 27-carat stone from its Baken mine sold for $50,000 per carat, and a 13-carat Baken stone achieved $40,000 per carat.
Trans Hex also said that it decided not to pursue a previously announced potential joint venture with Kimberley Consolidated Mines  in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
 “A review of available and new exploration and mineral chemical data has indicated that the project’s potential was unlikely to meet the Group’s exploration criteria and expectations,” Trans Hex said.
The company added that it continues to evaluate numerous business opportunities in its current areas of operation and at suitable entry level projects in new territories within Africa.

Rough&Polished