DIAMOND PAGE — Winspear to sample Snap Lake dyke

A land-based drill program on the NW Snap Lake kimberlite dyke at the Camsell Lake property in the Northwest Territories is providing Winspear Resources (WSP-V) with detailed structural information as to the continuity and thickness of the diamond-bearing body.

Winspear is operator of the project, in which it owns a 68% interest. The remainder is held by Aber Resources (ABZ-T).

The NW dyke sub-crops on a peninsula that juts into the northwestern corner of Snap Lake. The north-striking body dips approximately 15 to the east, extending beneath Snap Lake. The previous drilling of 13 widely spaced holes intersected the dyke along a strike length of 800 metres and a downdip extent of 600 metres. On one section only, two additional holes extended the dyke’s downdip projection to at least 1,800 metres from the sub-crop.

Earlier this year, a 199.7-tonne surface bulk sample of the NW dyke yielded a 228.9-carat parcel of diamonds grading 1.14 carats per tonne (preliminary estimate). Included were 21 diamonds weighing more than 1 carat, with the three largest stones weighing 10.87, 8.63 and 6.03 carats. The stones were determined to be worth an average of US$301 per carat and carry an implied value of US$343 per tonne.

In the current program of delineation drilling, 43 holes totalling 2,980 metres have grid-tested an area of the peninsula measuring about 800 metres along strike and between 200 and 400 metres downdip. The holes were drilled at 100-metre centres and offset 50 metres on adjacent grid lines that are spaced 50 metres apart.

Winspear reports that all the holes intersected kimberlite at the expected depths, with the exception of one hole that tested the updip limit of the dyke. No significant structural offsets were encountered, but drilling indicates broad warps in the kimberlite surface.

In the main part of the peninsula, measuring 550 by 400 metres, 30 holes encountered kimberlite intervals ranging in thickness from 1.1 to 4.9 metres, for an average of 2.6 metres. In the southern, narrower part of the peninsula, 12 holes defined an average thickness of 1.2 metres, though Winspear cautions that more control is needed in this area to provide a better understanding of the dyke.

Currently, 16 closely spaced holes are being drilled in a thicker part of the dyke, close to the sub-crop area, in preparation for winter bulk sampling. Microdiamond results from these holes, together with the results from the next bulk sample, will contribute to the geostatistical evaluation of the diamond distribution in the dyke.

A 500-kg sample of the NW dyke, representative of the bulk sample taken in the spring, is undergoing microdiamond analysis by Lakefield Research. These results will add to the microdiamond database on the NW dyke.

The kimberlite intersections from the recent grid-drilling will also be submitted for microdiamond analysis, as will 15 kimberlite dyke intersections encountered during spring drilling on three newly discovered dykes on the eastern side of Snap Lake.

Before the current drilling program winds down, Winspear intends to test the northern side of Snap Lake with two holes to determine if the NW dyke continues in that direction. As well, two widely spaced holes will further test the downdip extent of the dyke, and two holes will test additional features on the northeastern side of Snap Lake, where geological mapping and interpretative work were carried out this past summer.

MRDI Canada, a division of H.A. Simons, was hired to prepare a scoping study to evaluate the economic potential of the NW dyke. Winspear says results to date support the extraction of a large bulk sample to test for diamond content and value, as well as a more extensive drill program to delineate the NW dyke at depth beneath Snap Lake.

An aggressive exploration program is scheduled to begin in early 1999.