KimberleyDiamonds Ltd. said April 11 that open pit mining has started at itsLerala diamondmine in Botswana.

First production and recovery of diamonds is anticipatedwithin this month, with first sales expected in June.

An independent valuation of the Lerala mine in February increased themine's value by 24% to A$105 million, using a 10% discount rate, within thevaluation range of A$55.9 million to A$128.7 million.