THE DIAMOND PAGE — AfriOre uncovers pipes on Botswanan property

Toronto-based AfriOre (AFO-V) has uncovered three large kimberlite pipes at its 57%-owned Kokong West property in Botswana.

The discovery was made while the junior was drill-testing geophysical targets with coincident mineral indicator anomalies.

The three pipes, KW2, KW4 and KW5, occupy 20-30 ha, 10 ha and 5 ha, respectively. All are covered by sand of the Kalahari Desert, ranging in depth from 35 to 50 metres, and all feature crater facies kimberlite overlying diatreme facies, suggesting minimal loss of kimberlite due to weathering.

On the basis of results received to date, AfriOre concludes that kimberlites KW1 (previously discovered by Falconbridge in the 1980s and redrilled by AfriOre) and KW5 have little or no diamond preservation potential, whereas KW4 and especially KW2 are likely to contain diamonds.

AfriOre plans to drill 3-4 additional holes in an attempt to recover at least 200 kg of fresh kimberlite from KW2. Other geophysical targets on the licence will be tested as well.

The remaining 43% interest in Kokong West is held indirectly by Gencor.

Elsewhere in Botswana, at the Gope project, held by AfriOre and BHP Minerals, several targets have been identified based on airborne geophysics. Drilling will get under way in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, at the Kareevlei Wes-Skietfonteinin project, near Kimberley, South Africa, bulk sampling is planned following the discovery of six diamondiferous kimberlites by AfriOre and partner Ashton Mining. A sorting plant is under construction.