Optical sorting system

5 Aug 2005 14:09

Tanzanite One Limited05 August 2005 TANZANITEONE COMMISSIONS WORLD FIRST OPTICAL GEM SORTING SYSTEM London listed TanzaniteOne Ltd, the world's leading miner and marketer oftanzanite, today announces the commissioning of a fully automated roughtanzanite optical sorting and primary grading system, installed at the company'sMerelani Tanzanite Mine in Northern Tanzania. This highly advanced opticalsorting and grading system, fully operational as of today, is a world first inthe coloured gemstone industry and is seen as a significant technologicalmilestone in TanzaniteOne's drive to continuously improve recoveries andefficiencies. During commissioning the system achieved a tanzanite recovery of between 96% and100%. According to Mervyn Dettmer, TanzaniteOne's Final Recovery Manager,"Tanzanite recovery averaged out at an impressive 98% with the small fractionlost being of very low grade and value." Following primary sorting of rough tanzanite by the system, TanzaniteOne haspioneered a secondary sort run to select broad grades of rough tanzanite in acompletely hands off environment. Differential testing, to determine theaccuracy and efficiency of the optical sorter, has produced highly satisfactoryresults, with the entire operation able to be managed and monitoredelectronically from an off-site location. Despite being in its early stages of operation, the optical sorting isdelivering impressive results and will allow TanzaniteOne to comprehensivelymonitor all production at plant level from a central control point. Ian Harebottle, President and Chief Operating Officer of TanzaniteOne Ltd said:"The installation and commissioning of this optical sorting system allows us tosignificantly improve the efficiency and grade of tanzanite production whilereducing processing time and costs. We aim to significantly increase throughputcapacity at our Merelani Tanzanite Mine and enhance the profitability of ourexisting tanzanite operations, whilst simultaneously freeing up further capacityfor future expansion." ENDSFor further information please contact: TanzaniteOne LtdIan Harebottle - President & Chief Operating Officer+255 744 600 989ian@tanzaniteonesa.com Renata Da Silva - Investor Relations+27 11 214 1000renata@tanzaniteonesa.comwww.tanzaniteone.com Conduit PR (UK)Leesa Peters/ Amanda Harris+44 20 7618 8708/ 0781 215 9885 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange EN