Monopros has discovered a new kimberlite pipe between the 5034 and Hearne pipes on the AK property at Kennady Lake in the Northwest Territories.
The Canadian exploration arm of
This new discovery lies along an interpreted northeastern trend with three other pipes — Hearne, 5034 and Tuzo. Samples of the new kimberlite will be shipped to De Beers’ South African laboratory for microdiamond and indicator mineral analysis.
The Kennady Lake project comprises the AK-CJ properties and centres on what are now five closely spaced kimberlite pipes. Monopros can earn a 60% interest by advancing the project to production. Property owner
Bulk-sampling was recently completed. Using two large-diameter (12.25-inch) reverse-circulation drill rigs, Monopros collected 1,666 tonnes of kimberlite from 43 holes drilled into the four pipes to depths of up to 300 metres. The objective of the program was to obtain a sample of sufficient size to provide enough diamonds for a better estimate of the grade and value of each pipe.
In total, 575 tonnes were extracted from the 5034 pipe, 454 tonnes from the Hearne body, 460 tonnes from the Tuzo kimberlite and 177 tonnes from Tesla. It is estimated that about 1,000 carats of diamonds will be recovered from each of the 5034, Hearne and Tuzo pipes, and approximately 65 carats from the smaller Tesla pipe, where the diamonds are of a lower grade but, according to De Beers Canada, of “reasonable quality.”
The bulk samples will be initially concentrated at Monopros’s facilities in Canada and then shipped to South Africa for final diamond recovery and analysis. The results are expected to trickle in over the course of this summer.
A year ago, Monopros collected 50-tonne mini-bulk drill samples from each of the pipes to determine preliminary grades and valuations. A summary of the four pipes are as follows:
- the 5034 body is estimated to contain a resource of 15 million tonnes of kimberlite grading of 1.6 carats per tonne at an average value of US$51 per carat, for an implied value of US$82 per tonne;
- the Hearne pipe is host to 8 million tonnes grading 2.33 carats per tonne at US$44 per carat, giving an implied value of US$103 per tonne;
- the Tuzo pipe contains 9 million tonnes grading 2.2 carats per tonne at US$68 per carat, equivalent to US$150 per tonne; and
- the Tesla pipe has 4 million tonnes grading 0.37 carat per tonne at US$96 per carat, equivalent to US$36 per tonne.
The resource on all four pipes is calculated to a depth of 300 metres.
As part of the recent $14-million winter program, a separate phase of delineation drilling was carried out. The 16 angled drill holes were designed to define the four pipes at depth. A few of the delineation holes in the Hearne and Tuzo pipes have longer kimberlite intersections than were expected. Drilling suggests the Tuzo pipe broadens out at depth. The delineation drilling data will be used to update resource estimates.
An aggressive program of exploration drilling began in late March. Four additional exploration holes will be drilled in the Kennady Lake area before Monopros moves on to test other parts of the AK property in the upcoming weeks. During the summer of 1998, Monopros collected 945 till samples on the AK claims and 893 tills from the CJ claims. Most of the results of this sampling program have been received and are being evaluated in conjunction with previous sampling results and the numerous geophysical anomalies that have been identified. Monopros had earlier identified 11 significant clusters of anomalous kimberlite indicator minerals on the AK property alone. An additional indicator mineral train has been defined 10 km northeast of Kennady Lake.
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