DIAMOND PAGE — Kimberlite sill proves diamondiferous

Encouraging results are reported from the Munn Lake kimberlite sill discovery at the Back Lake project in the Northwest Territories.

A 42-kg aggregate kimberlite sample collected from two core holes and one sonic drill hole yielded two macrodiamonds and 12 micros. (A macro measures more than 0.5 mm in at least one dimension.)

SouthernEra Resources (SUF-T) made the find earlier this year while searching for the source of the diamond-bearing Yuryi kimberlite boulders, found near the shoreline of Munn Lake. After narrowing down the source area in Munn Lake by completing 231 sonic drill holes (two of the vertically drilled holes bottomed in kimberlite), the company followed-up with a 10-hole diamond drilling program. The holes tested an area measuring 300 by 150 metres. Eight of the holes intersected a kimberlite sill with true widths ranging from 0.25 to 12 metres. The three best intersections have true thicknesses of 12, 8 and 5 metres. The kimberlite sill dips about 30 to the northeast and remains open along strike and downdip.

Plans are in the works to drill-test the northwestern and southeastern strike extensions of the kimberlite sill to determine if the structure extends on to land.

SouthernEra holds a 70% interest in the Back Lake project, which is 100 km south of the Lac de Gras region. The remaining interest is held on a carried basis by Kalahari Resources (KLA-V), with 19.38%, and Island-Arc Resources (IAR-V), with 10.62%. Kennecott Canada Exploration, a division of Rio Tinto (RTP-N), holds a back-in right to a 30% interest from SouthernEra.