technology diamond recovery at Saxendrift

cnw






VANCOUVER, Sept. 6, 2011 /CNW/ - Rockwell Diamonds Inc. ("Rockwell" or
the "Company") (TSX: RDI) (JSE: RDI) (OTCBB: RDIAF) announces that its
board of directors has approved the capital investment to install high
throughput (or bulk) x-ray technology at Saxendrift. This represents
another positive step in implementing and entrenching its diamond value
management programmes which are focused on sustainably enhancing
diamond recoveries.


High throughput x-ray plants are the next significant advancement in
diamond processing technology. These plants effectively concentrate and
recover diamonds in one single, efficient, cost effective and secure
step. This technology can also identify rare Type II diamonds, which
are known to be present in Rockwell's Middle Orange River properties.
Diamonds of this type are, generally, not recognized by the standard
x-ray technology currently used at Saxendrift.


"The existing plant at Saxendrift is currently based on traditional pan
plant technology that is known to be less efficient in the recovery of
diamonds than the bulk x-ray technology which we are seeking to
implement," explains James Campbell, CEO, Rockwell. "We will pilot this
technology at Saxendrift to fine tune it to our specific requirements.
Our objective is to deploy the same technology over the next few years
in the new processing plants that are planned to be built at Wouterspan
and Niewejaarskraal with significant efficiency improvements over
standard flow sheets."


The project will include the procurement and installation of one high
throughput Bourevestnik (BV) sorter and one BV single particle sorter
for the concentration and final sorting of diamond bearing ore at
Saxendrift. The capital cost of some $1.5 million will be funded from
the proceeds of the recent asset sales. This cost includes the
installation of these units into an additional 400tph plant at
Saxendrift. The order has been placed for the equipment however the
order backlog is currently at about six months as a result of many
other diamond mining companies seeing the same benefits as Rockwell.
Commissioning is expected to be completed within three weeks of
delivery.


Evaluation of the new technology for Saxendrift suggests that the new
installation is likely to achieve a positive payback after the
retreatment of old recovery plant tailings. Subsequently, the new plant
will be used to process the run of mine ore and is expected to result
in a significant improvement in diamond recoveries.




Campbell also stated "together with the other improvements currently in
progress at Saxendrift and the recovery of high quality gem stones, we
are confident that production at this mine will improve significantly
to enable it to produce more of the large, high value diamonds for
which it is known."




About Rockwell Diamonds:




Rockwell is engaged in the business of operating and developing alluvial
diamond deposits, with a goal to become a mid-tier diamond mining
company. The Company has three existing operations, which it is
progressively optimizing, two development projects and a pipeline of
earlier stage properties with future development potential. Rockwell is
also at an advanced stage of completing the acquisition of the Tirisano
property.




Rockwell also evaluates merger and acquisition opportunities which have
the potential to expand its mineral resources and production profile
and would provide accretive value to the Company.




No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information
contained in this news release.


Forward Looking Statements


Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains
certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized
by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe",
"anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that
certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the
Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.


Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in forward-looking statements include uncertainties and costs related
to exploration and development activities, such as those related to
determining whether mineral resources exist on a property;
uncertainties related to expected production rates, timing of
production and cash and total costs of production; uncertainties
related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses, permits,
electricity, surface rights and title for development projects;
operating and technical difficulties in connection with mining
development activities; uncertainties related to the accuracy of our
mineral resource estimates and our estimates of future production and
future cash and total costs of production. In particular there can be
no assurance that refinancing funds will be available to Rockwell on
acceptable terms or any terms at all.

For further information on Rockwell, Investors should review Rockwell's
annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission http://www.sedar.com/">www.sedar.com.




For further information:

on Rockwell and its operations in South Africa, please contact James Campbell CEO +27 (0)83 457 3724
Stephanie Leclercq Investor Relations +27 (0)83 307 7587