In an effort to increase its revenues, Vancouver, Canada-based Rockwell Diamonds is ramping up its rate of production, hoping that such a move will lead to the discovery of more large stones, which fetch a pretty penny on the market, Mining Weekly reports. At its alluvial projects in South Africa's Middle Orange River region, the diamond company will now sift through 360,000 cubic meters of ore every month, though its medium-term target is a half-million cubic meters monthly.

The firm's newly developed projects and processing plants are also responsible for recent large diamond finds. After adopting a new bulk X-ray system at their Saxendrift project, grade results improved by 40% and two stones were found, each larger than 30 carats. And not long after a new Dense Media Separation procession plant went operational at the firm's Niewejaarskraal project in July, another two rough stones were found, each larger than 20 carats.

Introducing the bulk x-ray system is a lengthy process, but since its success at Saxendrift, Rockwell is now considering bringing the technology to Niewejaarskraal, as well, according to Mining Weekly.