Dios finds G10 pyrope garnet (April 22, 2002)

Dios Exploration (DOS-V) has discovered a G10 pyrope garnet on the 33 Carats property in the Otish Mountains region of north-central Quebec.

The company recovered five pyrope garnets from till samples collected last fall. The pyropes come from five distinct areas, indicating potential for the same number of indicator mineral trains and sources.

Heavy and indicator mineral picking from the till samples is about three-quarters complete. Results from the remaining till samples plus microprobe and chemical analysis are expected shortly.

The 33 Carats property comprises 721 sq. km in four blocks. The eastern ones surround the six Renard kimberlitic bodies discovered by Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) and its partner, Quebec-government-owned Soquem.

The partners recently reported four discoveries within 1 km of the diamond-bearing Renard 2 body, which itself sits 1 km south of the diamondiferous Renard 1. Ashton tested each new discovery with one vertical hole and one hole angled at 50. The new kimberlites were encountered under overburden ranging from 6 to 22 metres.

Of the four latest discoveries, Renard 4, 5 and 6 contain both hypabyssal and diatreme facies material, whereas Renard 3 consists solely of hypabyssal material. Microdiamond results from the recently completed drilling are expected in late June.