THE DIAMOND PAGE — More kimberlites discovered in Northwest

Three Alberta-listed juniors — Tanqueray Resources, Fibre-Klad Industries and Mill City Gold Mining — have discovered three separate kimberlite pipes at Yamba Lake in the Northwest Territories.

The discoveries resulted from a 5-hole program which tested three anomalies believed to be part of a new pipe cluster north of Yamba Lake. It is not yet known if the pipes are diamondiferous, and results are not expected back from Lakefield Research until late October.

“These were not our best geophysical targets,” said Tanqueray director Ed Schiller, who explained that geochemistry was the guiding tool. “These kimberlites all contain abundant pyrope and eclogitic garnets, chrome diopsides, picro-ilmenite and, importantly, peridotite and eclogite xenoliths. And the cluster was located based on an indicator mineral train down-ice from coincident, resistivity-magnetic, low geophysical anomalies.” The first angle hole (at 45) intersected 138 metres of kimberlite over the interval of 118-256 metres, while the second inclined hole intersected 113 metres over a 120-233-metre interval. The third hole drilled in the Torrie pipe did not intersect kimberlite.

The Sputnik pipe was tested by a hole inclined at 50 and drilled to a depth of 242 metres, which intersected 52 metres of kimberlite over a 190-242-metre interval. The hole ended in kimberlite as a result of drilling problems. A 45 angle hole drilled to test the Sue pipe intersected 120 metres of kimberlite over 29-149 metres.

Elsewhere in the Territories:

* The Humpy Lake region is expected to become active again now that Winspear Resources (VSE) and International Vestor Resources (VSE) have discovered a kimberlite on their jointly-owned Snare Lake property. This region is about 150 km west of the main Lac de Gras discoveries.

The first angle hole (45), drilled to test geophysical anomaly SO2, intersected 660 ft. of kimberlite, while the second intersected 511.5 ft. of kimberlite on the same target. The core has been shipped for analysis and evaluation, but, again, it is not known whether the target is diamondiferous. * Caledonia Mining (TSE) has completed sampling potential diamond trap-sites within its 525,000-acre coastal and river claim blocks near Coppermine, Tree River and Bathurst Inlet. The samples were sent to labs and will be tested for the presence of micro- and macro-diamonds, as well as indicator minerals. * Noront Resources (VSE) is continuing to negotiate joint-venture agreements covering its approximate 300,000-acre project near Lac de Gras area. These agreements also cover its optioned property of about 800,000 acres in the same area. The junior is hoping it will soon have the financing to complete its Courageous Lake drill program.

* Sampling of 32 of the 172 geophysical targets at the Warburton Bay property is complete. At their Point Lake property near Humpy Lake, Garden Lake Resources (VSE) and RJK Explorations (CDN) have completed geochemical sampling of 64 geophysical targets. The samples have been processed and sent away for heavy mineral separation and picking. Also, Garden Lake says Pure Gold Resources (TSE) will not be completing its option on the Covello property.

* Jonpol Explorations (TSE) says Aur Resources (TSE) has identified 12 potential kimberlite targets for drilling at the Pollack Lake joint venture. Five targets will be drilled immediately, and the remainder in February, when ice conditions permit.

Saskatchewan

* Investors following the Saskatchewan diamond play found little to cheer about in the latest news from companies active in that province. Aaron Oil (ASE) and 50-50 partner Rhonda Mining (ASE) recovered six microdiamonds from this year’s drilling in the Fort a la Corne region. The project was well-promoted and the news sent the share prices of both juniors into a tailspin. Rhonda fell to just over $5, from its year high of $10.50. The juniors say the drilling was intended to yield interpretive results, and more drilling is planned to test magnetic anomalies and determine the extent of the horizontal kimberlite bodies.

* Gerle Gold (VSE) has formed a joint venture with Echo Bay Mines (TSE) on diamond properties near Itchen Lake and Back River. Gerle can earn a 50% working interest in these properties by spending $1 million over five years, in each area. Samples from both areas have been collected and shipped to a lab for processing.

Overseas

* Larry Reaugh’s junior Verdstone Gold (VSE) can earn up to a 60% interest in the Kenieba concession in Mali, in return for $6 million of exploration, plus staged option payments and share issuances. The deal with Mink Mineral Resources (VSE) is rather pricey, although both juniors point out that the concession has four known kimberlite pipes. One of these was previously tested by two drill holes to a depth of 226 ft., and returned 14 microdiamonds. At least 11 untested targets have been located on the concession though geophysics.

* In Western Australia, Cliff Resources (TSE) has recovered microdiamonds (less than 0.5 mm in size) from the Aries kimberlite pipe of its Phillips Range project. The largest sample, 20 kg from hole AN4, returned a grade of 45 micros per 100 kg. A 3-kg sample from the same hole (nearer the surface) returned 49 micros per 100 kg.

Cliff qualifies the results by reporting that, although several phases of kimberlite were identified, samples selected for micro analysis were restricted to individual types of kimberlite.

The results from AN4 equal the highest micro counts previously recorded from the Central lobe-weathered kimberlite (which was bulk-tested to a 20-metre depth in 1990), Cliff says.

On site is a 100-tonne-per-hour diamond recovery plant which is processing gravels overlying the Aries pipe. To date, 884 diamonds totaling 358 carats have been recovered, including 58 diamonds exceeding one carat in size. Cliff reports that the largest diamond recovered weighed 3.28 carats. * In Botswana, the KLM joint venture of Kingswood Resources (ASE), Layfield Resources (VSE) and Monument Resources has been awarded exploration licences totaling more than 2.7 million acres on three diamond properties (Kokong, Lekgodu and Molopo). A 2-year exploration program worth US$1.25 million is planned.