STOCK MARKETS — Diamond plays add some zest to VSE

The Vancouver Stock Exchange composite index closed up 12.63 points at 1,191.02 for the report period ended Jan. 14, while the resource index finished at 2,264.75, off 11.99 points.

Trade Wind Resources dropped 19 cents to close at 33 cents on the release of macrodiamond results from the 80%-held Drybones Bay kimberlite project, southeast of Yellowknife, N.W.T. A total of 54 diamonds measuring greater than 0.8 mm were recovered from 9.3 tonnes of drill core. The largest stone measured 3 by 2.2 by 1.9 mm. Drybones Bay is a complex, multi-facie intrusion covering a 900-by-400-metre area.

The amalgamation of Antler Resources was completed by Winspear Resources, which now holds a 57.3% interest in the Camsell Lake project, 140 miles northeast of Yellowknife. Toronto-listed Aber Resources holds the remaining 42.7%. The project has generated a lot of market interest with the discovery of micro and macrodiamonds in sampled boulders and till samples from the northwestern side of Snap Lake. Winspear closed at $3.80, for a gain of 25 cents.

Diamond fever propelled Kalahari Resources to $1.40, representing a jump of 40 cents. The company holds a 30% interest in the Mackay Lake joint venture and a 19.38% stake in the Back Lake project, both of which adjoin Camsell Lake to the north. Toronto-listed SouthernEra Resources holds a 70% interest in the properties.

Consolidated Texas Northern Minerals was up 13 cents at 30 cents after agreeing to a brokered private placement of up to 5 million special warrants at a

price of 19 cents each. Proceeds will be used to complete a heavy mineral sampling program and an airborne geophysical survey on the MAC claims, which comprise 314,935 acres in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories.

Initial hand-dug trenching on the 29,620-ha Banyumas exploration permit in central Java, Indonesia, returned 102 metres averaging 1.04 grams gold per tonne, including 20 metres averaging 3.67 grams. Partners Hyder Gold and Mango Resources hold a 65% interest in the property, with an option to earn a further 10%. Additional trenching and geochemical sampling are ongoing. Hyder rose 13 cents to 62 cents, while Mango tacked on 35 cents at $2.75.

Mar-West Resources closed at $1.65, up 35 cents. The company holds an ex- tensive portfolio of exploration projects in Honduras and is currently drill- ing the joint-ventured Choluteca gold project with New York-listed Battle Mountain Gold.

Morgain Minerals is awaiting drill results from the Cuatro Hermanos porphyry project in Mexico’s Sonora state. BHP Minerals, which holds an option to earn a 51% interest in the property, is carrying out a reverse-circulation drill program. Previously, Morgain estimated a geological resource of 198 million tons grading 0.48% copper and 0.035% molybdenite, based on limited, widely spaced holes. Morgain was up 99 cents at $5.80.

Auspex Minerals finished up 17 cents at $1.35 after acquiring the remaining 40% interest in the Koulbaga concession in Niger, West Africa. Geophysics, geochemical sampling and shallow auger drilling have outlined upwards of 20 targets on the wholly owned property.

Arizona Star Resource closed down 85 cents to $9 on the release of further drill results from the Cerro Casale and Cerro Roman porphyry projects at its 51%-owned Aldebaran property in northern Chile. Toronto-listed Bema Gold holds the other 49% interest in the property.

Eaglecrest Explorations is benefiting from progress made during a drill program on the Trinidad zone of its San Simon concessions in Bolivia. The issue finished up 50 cents at $2.30 after pulling 140 ft. of 0.06 oz. in hole 11 and 155 ft. of 0.044 oz. in hole 12.