Diamond-hunters Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) and Pure Gold Resources (PUG-T) have discovered two new kimberlites in the Buffalo Hills area of north-central Alberta, bringing to seven the number found so far.
Three holes were drilled from a single site on anomaly 5A, a large geophysical feature measuring 600 metres in diameter. After passing through 13 metres of glacial overburden, each of the holes intersected an olivine-dominated, tuffaceous, volcanic kimberlite exhibiting crater facies texture.
A single vertical hole was drilled into the adjacent anomaly, 5B, and cut through 74 metres of overburden before intersecting kimberlitic mate-rial that displays characteristics similar to those encountered in anomaly 5A.
The seven kimberlite bodies lie within a 100-sq.-km area.
A second hole (adjacent to an earlier hole), on anomaly 6, passed through 74 metres of overburden before hitting kimberlite exhibiting diatreme facies.
Petrographic studies have confirmed the kimberlitic-textured rock pulled from the holes is in fact kimberlite. Indicator minerals identified to date include chromites, as well as eclogite and peridotitic pyrope garnets.
The holes will be analyzed for diamonds by caustic fusion methods, once logging and chemical analysis of indicator minerals are completed.
Under an option agreement with an Alberta energy firm, Pure Gold has funded the first $500,000 to earn a 15% interest in the project, which covers 5.8 million acres in the Buffalo Hills area, northeast of Grande Prairie. Ashton is operating the joint venture and can earn a 42.5% interest by funding the next $5 million.
This first round of drilling is expected to wrap up by early March.
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