Voisey’s Bay mineralization leaps eastward

Drilling at the Voisey’s Bay nickel-copper-cobalt deposit in Labrador has expanded the basal mineralized zone known as the Eastern Deeps.

Diamond Fields Resources (TSE), while drilling Hole 244 from a collar 500 metres east of known mineralization, intersected more than 30 metres of dense sulphides, including lenses of massive sulphides. This discovery extends the known mineralization at Voisey’s Bay to more than 1,400 metres from 900 metres in strike length. The width of the zone is known to extend 300 metres.

Nickel-copper-cobalt mineralization runs, from west to east, through the Western Extension, the Ovoid zone, and then past a faulted area to the Eastern Deeps. It remains open east of the Eastern Deeps and west of the Western Extension, following the track of a coincidental

electromagnetic-magnetic anomaly into the sparsely drilled area Diamond Fields has called Voisey’s Bay West.

Assays from Hole 244 are pending, although Diamond Fields reports that, based on visual examination, core from this and other recently drilled holes is expected to produce base metal grades similar to those already assayed. Recent assays from the Eastern Deeps zone show 5-40 metre intervals running roughly 3% nickel, 1-1.5% copper and 0.18% cobalt .

In the Western Extension and Voisey’s Bay West zones, grades are lower, with nickel running about 0.5-1.5% (full results are shown below). Drilling there continues to extend the ore-bearing troctolite rock along strike and at depth.

Diamond Fields staff geologists now believe that the entire Voisey’s Bay troctolite unit, extending from west of the known mineralization, through the Eastern Deeps and northward to Anaktalik Bay, represents one extensive mineralized system. In this model, each “deposit” exhibits a different erosional level, or stratigraphic horizon, within the mineralized system.

The Western Extension and Voisey’s Bay West areas show only the feeder conduit to the main troctolite body; here, the main troctolite body itself has been eroded off. Erosion in the Ovoid zone has exposed the bottom of the main troctolite body, where the massive sulphides settled. The Eastern Deeps area shows the complete mineralized system, with the main troctolite body at surface and denser sulphides ponding at the bottom and in the feeder conduit.

According to Diamond Fields, this model enhances the exploration potential for the undrilled portion of the troctolite on the company’s main claim block and will serve as an exploration tool for the discovery of additional deposits on other claims held by Diamond Fields.

A trial gravity survey over the immediate discovery area showed anomalous response over known mineralization. The full results suggest continuation of the known mineralization to the southeast, and a separate anomaly to the south of the Eastern Deeps. Diamond Fields intends to drill these newly defined targets as soon as possible.

A project of stepout exploration and condemnation drilling (for tailings and waste rock disposal) has begun on the main claim block. The 1996 program of regional exploration beyond the main block will begin when weather permits.

Diamond Fields officials in Newfoundland report that activity at Voisey’s Bay remains unchanged by the proposed acquisition of Diamond Fields by Inco (TSE) for $4.5 billion.

Intercepts received in the past three months are listed in the table below: Eastern Deeps

Hole Depth(m) Thickness(m) Nickel(%) Copper(%) Cobalt(%) 204 793-804 11 1.02 0.5 0.05
overall 686-811 125 0.45 0.22 0.01
206 719.7-738.7 19 3.07 1.29 0.17
overall 714.7-744.7 30 2.26 1.03 0.12
207/7A 781-804.5 23.5 1.27 0.56 0.07
overall 753.9-805.5 51.6 0.95 0.41 0.05
209 745.1-755.4 10.3 3.06 1.17 0.16
overall 740.3-759.4 19.1 2.11 0.93 0.11
212 789.4-809.6 20.2 3.02 1.27 0.17
overall 781.5-813.6 32.1 2.28 1 0.13
214 641.2-695.9 54.7 3.33 1.41 0.17
overall 624-702.9 78.9 2.64 1.1 0.14
217 711.8-733 21.3 1.44 0.59 0.08
218 810-856.2 46.2 1.79 0.75 0.1
866.1-869.5 3.4 3.24 1.21 0.18
219 815.8-832.8 17 3.07 1.57 0.17
overall 767.4-832.8 65.4 1.77 0.84 0.09
220 721.1-749.7 28 3.29 1.25 0.18
overall 713.1-757.7 44.6 2.58 1 0.14
221 653.6-666.7 13.1 3.35 1.25 0.17
226 861.1-869 7.9 3.16 1.33 0.2
848.6-869 20.4 1.86 0.83 0.12
overall 778.9-869 90.1 1.23 0.54 0.07
227 813.2-822.2 9 0.79 0.32 0.06
833.3-839.5 6.2 1.41 0.59 0.1
854.5-866.7 12.2 2.14 0.93 0.15
228 742.5-765.3 22.8 3.32 1.51 0.22
overall 741.5-769.4 27.9 2.96 1.35 0.2
229 706.9-761.1 54.2 1.28 0.49 0.07
789.7-816 26.3 0.91 0.38 0.07
230 689.3-698.3 9 3.4 0.86 0.21
overall 679.9-705.3 25.4 2.07 0.64 0.13
231 937.6-942.1 4.5 3.13 0.94 0.2
overall 866-948.1 82.1 1.15 0.53 0.07
235 775.8-878.1 102.3 1 0.45 0.06
240 697.6-719.6 22 3.4 1.22 0.21
overall 628.5-729.6 101.1 1.47 0.5 0.09
Western Extension and Voisey's Bay West
216 55.8-91.4 35.6 0.8 0.57 0.03
123.4-163.1 39.7 1 0.35 0.05
222 265-312 47 1.52 1.16 0.06
223 142.3-157 14.7 0.58 0.26 0.04
100.3-168 67.7 0.38 0.16 0.02
225 325.3-352 26.7 1.07 0.73 0.05
overall 325.3-372 46.7 0.82 0.55 0.04
232 261.4-294.1 32.7 1.26 1.05 0.07
237 595.6-603.6 11 0.54 0.45 0.04
242 331-340 9 0.88 0.41 0.06