Ashton finds more diamonds in Artemisia (February 08, 2002)

Vancouver — The results from a 1,157-kg sample has prompted partners Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) and Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T) to collect more material from the newly discovered Artemisia kimberlite pipe in Nunavut

Located on the 531-sq.-km Kim property, the pipe was discovered in 2001 by following up an indicator mineral dispersion fan. Prospecting subsequently uncovered kimberlite float over an area measuring 140 by 150 metres. A vertical drill hole was collared in the centre of the float area and intersected kimberlite breccia to the bottom of the hole at 169.2 metres of depth.

Initial microdiamond counts from a 103.2-kg sample collected from the core returned an encouraging 342 microdiamonds (0.1-to-0.5 mm in one dimension) and 38 macrodiamonds (at least 5 mm in one dimension). The largest stone came in at 1.23-by-1.15-by-1.1 mm. The latest results tally 470 micros and 48 macrodiamonds from a 142.8 kg sample of drill core. Surface material collected from talus and outcrop 60, 71 and 48 metres northeast, west and southeast of the drill collars, respectively returned 309 microdiamonds and 34 macrodiamonds from a combined 85.5-kg sample.

A 1.2-tonne sample of outcropping kimberlite collected during last year’s program indicates an estimated diamond count of 17.3 carats of diamonds per 100 tonnes of kimberlite. A total of 0.2 carats of diamonds were larger than 0.8 mm using a square aperture screen with the largest diamond, a colourless octahedral, measuring 2.25-by-1.75-by-1.35 mm.

Due to the small size of the sample and the fact that it was derived from outcrop and talus material, Ashton is planning to collect a more representative 5-to-10-tonne sample from drill core during the current winter field program.

The Kim property lies 500 km north of Yellowknife and form part of the Slave regional joint venture with Ashton holding a 90% stake. Pure Gold has the remaining 10%.