Reconnaissance Investigation of the Rough Diamond Resource Potential and Production Capacity of Côte d’Ivoire
Publisher: Peter G. Chirico and Katherine C. Malpeli (USGS)
Date: 2013
Topics: Assessment, Extractive Resources, Monitoring and Evaluation
Countries: Cote d'Ivoire
This report presents the results of a multiyear effort to monitor the diamond mining activities of Côte d’Ivoire’s two main diamond mining areas, Séguéla and Tortiya. An innovative approach was developed that integrates data acquired from archival reports and maps, high-resolution satellite imagery, and digital terrain modeling to assess the total diamond endowment of the Séguéla and Tortiya deposits and to calculate annual diamond production from 2006 to 2013. This study estimates that a total of 10,100,000 carats remain in Séguéla and a total of 1,100,000 carats remain in Tortiya. Production capacity was found to range from between 38,000 and 375,000 carats in Séguéla and from 13,000 carats to 20,000 carats in Tortiya, from 2006 to 2013.