With a marked increase in its overall revenues, diamond company Rockwell managed to cut its losses, in comparison to the hemorrhaging it suffered during the same three month period a year ago, Mining Weekly reports. Rockwell earned $9.4 million during its fiscal fourth quarter, which it calculates from December 2012 to February 2013 – an 11% improvement over its earnings between December 2011 to February 2012.

Rockwell's quarterly earnings increased although it processed 6% less gravel during Q4, resulting in 5% fewer carats of rough diamonds being unearthed: only 3,854.

Undertaking impairments that amounted to $5.6 million, Rockwell got hit was a $3.6 million loss on the quarter. But this loss was actually a great year-over-year improvement over the $10 million loss the firm suffered during its previous Q4, according to IDEX Online.

Rockwell chief executive officer James Campbell also noted that the company's Niewejaarskraal diamond mine would return to production as early as next week, and that it would ramp up to full speed by September, according to Mining Weekly.