The joint-venture partners in the Buffalo Hills diamond project in northern Alberta are preparing to begin delineation drilling on the K252 kimberlite.
K252 is the most promising of the 36 kimberlites discovered over the past several years by
The mini-bulk sample was collected from three large-diameter reverse-circulation holes drilled to depths of just over 200 metres, near the interpreted centre of the 2-hectare body. K252 is covered by as much as 75 metres of overburden and consists of two distinct phases: an upper, fine-to-medium-grained volcaniclastic kimberlite and an underlying kimberlite breccia.
The 22.8-tonne sample consisted of 13.4 tonnes of volcaniclastic kimberlite and 9.4 tonnes of kimberlite breccia. The 13.4 tonnes of volcaniclastic material yielded 4.51 carats of diamonds, for a grade of 0.34 carat per tonne, whereas 9.5 tonnes of breccia returned 12.54 carats, equivalent to 0.85 carat per tonne. The largest recovered stone, a 0.94-carat colourless composite crystal, came from the kimberlite breccia. The second largest stone, a colourless 0.65-carat, was recovered from the volcaniclastic phase. The next six largest stones weighed between 0.17 and 0.28 carat.
Ashton intends to probe the K252 kimberlite with a further six to eight holes to test its size potential. Unlike the other kimberlites discovered in the Buffalo Hills area, K252 has a weak magnetic signature and was originally identified through an electromagnetic (EM) survey.
In addition, ground surveys will be performed on known magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) anomalies, with drilling to follow if warranted. An airborne EM survey will also be flown, to identify additional targets in the Buffalo Hills area for subsequent follow-up.
Ashton and
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