Sampling of alluvial material at the Dachine property in French Guiana by Guyanor Ressources (GRL.B-T) and Golden Star Resources (GSC-T) has yielded more than 5,000 diamonds.
From three creeks, the partners have collected 13 samples ranging in size from 3 to 17.9 cubic metres. One of the sites is on the Dachine property; the other two are 1 km to the east and west.
Sample material was processed on site using a trommel-jig plant and grease tables. However, processing was limited by logistical and budget constraints to only 27.1 cubic metres, or 32%, of the total sample. The partners recovered 5,142 macrodiamonds (defined as stones measuring greater than 1 mm in one dimension), some of which were larger than 4.5 mm (0.88 carat). The diamonds recovered weighed 73.93 carats.
The macros are predominantly off-white, grey and brown in color, contain inclusions and feature many aggregates and fragments. Cubic and dodecahedral (12-sided) shapes are predominant. More than 90% of the Dachine diamonds are of industrial quality. The value of the stones examined has been estimated at US$1-3 per carat.
Alluvial diamonds recovered from sample sites within the boundaries of the body graded 4.1 carats per cubic metre.
The next phase of exploration at Dachine will include geological mapping and drilling to characterize diamond and facies variability identified by core drilling in 1996.
Guyanor and Golden Star say they may seek a joint-venture partner to help conduct the next phase of work.
The Dachine project is wholly owned by Guyanor, which, in turn, is 69% owned by Golden Star.
BHP Minerals Canada, a unit of Broken Hill Proprietary (bhp-n), was once a partner of Golden Star at Dachine but backed out, to be replaced by Guyanor.
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