De Beers uses Zeppelin and discovers diamond weather

De Beers pulls back on criticism of SAfrica mine law

De Beers pulled back on its criticism of South African laws on mineral prospecting and said it could apply for a reconnaissance permit to use a special airship to explore for diamonds under current rules.

This Zeppelin NT airship can provide geophysical survey data to help diamond prospecting companies. Stefan Kuna captured this spectacular Zeppelin lightning diamond weather strike near Jwaneng, Botswana .picture found at :
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JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Wed Sep 19, 2007 found at  investing.reuters.co.uk

David Noko, managing director of the company's South African unit De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM), said in a statement on Wednesday the company had held meetings since June with the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), during which the regulations governing exploration had been clarified by the DME.
"The company understands and appreciates that the aerial reconnaissance stage of exploration does not require extensive and lengthy approval processes," Noko said.
"The company will undertake its South African exploration programme with the current prospecting permits it has and will lodge applications for a reconnaissance exploration permit to the DME," he added.

Nicky Oppenheimer, chairman of De Beers, said last Friday South African laws made it difficult to prospect for diamonds and minerals, barring companies from taking advantage of the commodities price boom.

Oppenheimer gave as an example that De Beers is searching for new diamond mine fields in Botswana using a special airship which could not be used in South Africa without complying with environmental impact assessment rules.

The airship uses modern geoscience equipment designed to find diamond-bearing kimberlite rock as it conducts large sweeps over land.

De Beers, which is 45 percent owned by Anglo American Plc (AAL.L), has said there was potential for finding new diamond mines in the country.

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