DIAMOND PAGE — Ashton recovers more diamonds from K91

The Buffalo Hills diamond project continues to produce impressive results.

Further analysis of K91, the most recent kimberlite find on the north-central Alberta project, returned 5 macrodiamonds and 41 micros from a 5.25-metre section of drill core weighing 20 kg.

So far, the K91 kimberlite has yielded a total of 12 macros and 180 micros from 117 kg of core, a ratio of 1.03 macros per 10 kg.

The project’s operator, Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T), defines a micro as a stone having a maximum dimension of less than 0.5 mm and greater than 0.1 mm, while a macro is greater than, or equal to, 0.5 mm.

Ashton can earn a 42.5% interest in the original 566,500-ha property from Alberta Energy (AEC-T) by spending $5 million on exploration. Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T) holds the right to a 15% interest.

Ashton has discovered 15 kimberlite bodies on the Buffalo Hills property since drilling of geophysical targets began last January. Initial microdiamond analysis shows that 11 of the kimberlites are diamondiferous.

The K14 kimberlite complex, which was first thought to represent three separate pipes, is counted as one body. Delineation drilling suggests K14, K14B and K14C represent multiple phases of a single, irregular and complex body. The K91 kimberlite lies 2.3 km north-northwest of K14.

Ashton says the results from K91 are among the best returned to date from the Buffalo Hills program and indicate the need for further sampling.

In the meantime, dense-media-separation analysis of mini-bulk samples from kimberlites K14B, K5, K6 and K14C is being slowed by high concentrations of unaltered olivine in the kimberlites. Results are expected in mid-January.

The interpretation of detailed aeromagnetic geophysical surveys flown earlier this year over the original option block is reported to have defined a number of targets which Ashton believes may reflect kimberlite pipes.

Aeromagnetic surveys are underway over large blocks of ground held by the partners to the north and east of the original

Buffalo Hills property. Ashton, Alberta Energy and Pure Gold share ownership of an additional 1.8 million ha of ground surrounding Buffalo Hills, including the Loon Lake, Birch Mountain, Muddy River and Rabbit Lake properties.

Ownership of a further 9.1 million ha, known collectively as the Caribou Hills properties, is held 49% by Pure Gold, 25.5% by Ashton and 25.5% by Alberta Energy.