Finsch mine is situated 165km west of Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
The Finsch pipe was discovered by prospectors Finscham and Schwabel in 1960 and the open-pit mine was established in 1961.
Open Pit mining (Blocks 1,2, and 3) was terminated in 1990 with the pit reaching a depth of 430 meters from surface. Modified blast-hole open-stoping underground mining method extended the pit depth to 510 meters.
The mine currently using the mechanised block cave mining method to mine block 4. The ore grade averages approximately 40 cpht.
In 2007, Finsch produced 2 334 000 carats.
The mine’s environmental management programme is ISO14001 certified and its safety record has earned it Noscar status. Finsch has an enviable reputation in the South African mining industry with four million fatality-free shifts.
The Northern Cape’s wealth of minerals makes mining an important source of income. Unemployment and poverty remain high and Finsch is involved in numerous community programmes aimed at social upliftment. These focus primarily on:
- HIV/Aids awareness, prevention and care
- Support for local schools and skills development initiatives
- Job creation projects