De Beers processes Fort la Corne sample

Vancouver — Kensington Resources (KRT-V) reports that Anglo American‘s (AAUK-Q) diamond unit, De Beers Canada Exploration, has completed heavy mineral separation on a mini-bulk sample taken last year from the 140/141 kimberlite at the Fort la Corne diamond project in Saskatchewan.

A total of 1,271.9 tonnes of kimberlite was sampled in late 2002 and transported to a processing plant in Grande Prairie for concentration of heavy minerals (including diamonds) using dense media separation.

The $5.2-million, 2-stage drill and mini-bulk sampling campaign was designed to improve the geological understanding, diamond distribution and diamond values within the 140/141 body, with the ultimate goal of determining a resource.

Minibulk samples were taken from the central part of the northwestern eruptive centre, as well as five other locations in the southeastern and central portions of the kimberlite body.

Half of the heavy mineral concentrate is already at De Beers’s Group Exploration Macrodiamond Laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the remainder will be shipped shortly.

Final diamond recovery procedures are expected to begin before the end of February, and initial diamond stone counts and sieve parcel weights are anticipated by mid-year.

The Fort la Corne project is a joint venture among Kensington, with 42.25%, De Beers, with 42.25%, and Cameco (CCO-T), with 15.5%. Cameco is carried for a 10% interest through its subsidiary, UEM Inc.