DIAMOND PAGE — Torrie pipe fails to sparkle

Redrilling of the Torrie kimberlite pipe at the Yamba Lake property in the Northwest Territories has confirmed the disappointing results recieved from bulk-sampling.

Based on the most recent results, Mill City Gold Mining (MIY-A) says the pipe would not support an economic deposit.

Joint-venture partner Cypango Ventures (CAV-V) redrilled the Torrie pipe with two holes, collecting 1.9 tonnes of sample. Cypango felt further evaluation of the pipe was warranted in light of the 1993 drill program, which yielded 181 microdiamonds and 53 macros. (A macro is defined as exceeding 0.5 mm in size in at least one dimension.) A subsequent bulk sample of 24.5 tonnes, however, returned only 19 diamonds weighing 0.635 carat in total.

In total, 14 micros and 4 macros weighing an aggregate 0.005 carat were recovered from 167.8 kg of sample by caustic dissolution. A preliminary grade is calculated at 2.9 carats per 100 tonnes, or 0.029 carat per tonne.

Dense media solution tests on 1,685.7 kg of sample revealed 8 diamonds weighing 0.0674 carat in total, for a preliminary grade of 4 carats per 100 tonnes, or 0.04 carat per tonne.

The largest stones recovered weighed an estimated 0.0235 and 0.0210 carats.

Meanwhile, Cypango is continuing to drill-test the newly discovered T-10 kimberlite in an area east of the Torrie, Sputnik and Sue pipes. A second hole was collared 150 metres south of the discovery hole and drilled at an angle of minus 60. It intersected an 82.6-metre interval of kimberlite. A third hole is being collared from the same site.

Core logging has identified four distinct facies in the pipe, all of which are reported to be diamondiferous. No diamond count is reported to date.

Five holes will be drilled in an attempt to determine the pipe’s geometry. As well, a further eight well-defined targets lie in the vicinity of T-10.

Cypango can earn an initial 51% interest in the Yamba Lake property from partners Mill City and Tanqueray Resources (TQY-A) by spending $5 million on exploration. The interest can be increased to 70% by completing a feasibility study.