DIAMOND PAGE — Results reported for the 5034 kimberlite

Processing of part of a 100-tonne bulk sample from the 5034 kimberlite at the AK property in the Northwest Territories has yielded mixed results.

The 24.6-tonne portion was found to contain a grade of 3.09 carats per tonne.

Previously, 5.8 tonnes of exploration drill core were subjected to caustic fusion methods, and the resulting grade was 5.36 carats for macrodiamonds larger than 1 mm.

However, those diamonds exceeding 2 mm in the largest dimension were found to grade, on average, 2.28 carats per tonne, compared with a previous estimate of 1.83 carats.

The AK property is held 50% by Mountain Province Mining (MPV-V), 40% by Glenmore Highlands (GMH-A) and 10% by Camphor Ventures (CFV-V). Lytton Minerals (LTL-T) owns a 41% share of Glenmore.

The mini-bulk sample is being processed by project operator Canamera Geological through its dense media separation plant. The plant does not recover diamonds smaller than 1.5 mm in size; hence the lower grade. The full recovery of the smaller stones is not considered crucial by the partners, given their low commercial value.

The 24.6 tonnes of kimberlite were extracted by nine holes in the southern and central parts of the pipe. The grade in each of the drill holes, from top to bottom, was found to be roughly uniform.

Of the diamonds recovered, 144 exceed 0.1 carat, 53 are greater than 0.2 carat and nine are larger than 0.5 carat. The five largest diamonds are described as clear, gem quality stones, and weigh a respective 1.89, 1.53, 1.03, 0.86 and 0.75 carats.

The 5034 kimberlite is estimated to contain at least 20 million tonnes to a depth of 350 metres.

Delineation drilling of the 5034, which is open in several directions, is continuing, as is exploratory drilling on priority targets.