Aber plans bulk-sampling program

It was standing room only at the annual meeting of Aber Resources (TSE) as management explained plans to carry out a mini-bulk-sampling program on two recently discovered kimberlites in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories.

Although diamonds were the main topic of interest, Aber President Grenville Thomas took a few moments to comment on the nature of work taking place this summer on the company’s large land package on Victoria Island in the High Arctic.

“This project has the potential to do for Aber what diamonds have done for Aber,” Thomas said. Activity is focused on a portion of the Minto Inlier believed to have geological similarities to the Norilsk region of Russia, which hosts some of the world’s richest deposits of nickel, copper and platinum group elements.

On the diamond front, the company is particularly encouraged by the latest results from exploration drilling on the A-154 kimberlite on the Diavik property held 40% by Aber and 60% by Kennecott Canada. (The holder of a 1% net smelter royalty on Aber’s discovery ground is TSE-listed Repadre Capital.) The discovery hole into this target returned an impressive 1,296 diamonds from a total weight of 750.8 kg of core. Of this total, 402 were macrodiamonds (measuring more than 0.5 mm in one dimension). The hole intersected kimberlite at a depth of 25 metres and was lost as a result of difficult drilling conditions at a depth of 222 metres while still in kimberlite.

The Aber president was reluctant to speculate on the gem content because, so far, only one hole has been drilled to test the A-154 pipe. “We are quite happy with the quality of the diamonds,” Thomas told The Northern Miner. “They appear to be in line with what is being encountered elsewhere in the Lac de Gras region.”

He said the company is also encouraged by the size of diamonds being encountered in the exploration drilling. Of the 402 macros recovered, 112 are greater than 1 mm (one dimension) and seven of these stones have a weight exceeding 0.2 carats.

Two of these diamonds, with calculated carat weights of 1.75 and 0.25, were discovered in the drill core during visual examination and were previously reported. The larger of the two, a macle (or twinned diamond) which appeared to be clear and colorless, was on display at the annual meeting. The weight of the large stones later recovered during the fusion process is reported to range between 0.21 and 1.18 carats. To encounter diamonds of this size during exploration drilling is encouraging, which explains why Aber is gearing up to carry out a delineation drill program and collect a mini-bulk sample from the A-154 pipe.

“We hope to collect about 30 tonnes from A-154, and the same from the A-21 pipe if time permits,” said Eira Thomas, Aber’s project geologist. “We hope to begin in mid-August, as soon as the permitting process is complete.” Thomas also said the company plans to drill other targets on the company’s land holdings in the Lac de Gras region. Several will be drilled this summer, including the Creek anomaly, which the company views as “highly promising” based on indicator mineral chemistry.

Because both the A-154 and A-21 pipes are under Lac de Gras, drilling will be carried out from a barge. Further down the road, Aber believes the water depth is shallow enough to allow for open-pit mining using berms. Underground bulk mining techniques would also be considered if the pipes are found to be viable.

In the meantime, Aber is awaiting the results of more drilling on the A-21 pipe. The first hole returned 38 macros and 116 micros from 154.6 kg of core. Aber also has a 15% interest in the Tli Kwo Cho kimberlite recently bulk sampled by Kennecott. Results on grade (carats per tonne) are expected shortly, with valuations to follow.

Aber’s exploration successes has not gone unnoticed, according to David James, mining analyst with Canaccord Capital, who views the company as a takeover candidate. “De Beers has recently shown its hand in taking a position in Mill City Gold; where do the majors stand on Aber?” James said, after pointing out that the company has no poison-pill provision and no visible control block.