Ashton finds new kimberlite

Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) has discovered a new kimberlite, on the Ric property in far northern Nunavut.

Situated 250 km northwest of the Ekati diamond mine, the property is one of four blocks of claims held under the Slave joint-venture agreement between Ashton and Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T).

Ashton has an 81.2% interest in the 79,000-ha package, with the remainder held by Pure Gold.

Follow-up work on anomalous heavy mineral samples collected in 1998 led to the discovery of the outcropping Hydra kimberlite on a lake shore. Petrological studies identify the rock as hypabyssal kimberlite.

Rock samples will by analyzed for microdiamonds at Ashton’s North Vancouver laboratory. A helicopter-borne magnetic geophysical survey has been completed in the area.