Junior Archangel Diamond (AAD-V) continues to size up pipe 441 at its 40%-held Verkhotina diamond project in northwestern Russia.
The latest results from hole 46 include the recovery of a gem-quality, octahedron-shaped diamond weighing 0.72 carat. It is the largest diamond recovered to date from pipe 441.
Hole 46 intersected 97.8 metres of crater facies, beginning at a depth of 65 metres, before cutting 138.2 metres of diatreme kimberlite between 162.8 and 301 metres. The hole ended in kimberlite.
A 778.3-kg sample of the crater facies, which comprises bedded sandstones and tuffaceous breccias, yielded 26 macrodiamonds, including five stones measuring 1-2 mm in at least one dimension.
A 1,208.5-kg sample of the kimberlite diatreme returned 74 macros, including seven stones measuring 1-2 mm and three diamonds measuring 2-4 mm.
To date, drill-testing of the 441 pipe has gathered 4.8 tonnes of crater facies and 3.9 tonnes of diatreme. The diatreme has yielded a total of 143 macrodiamonds greater than 1 mm in size, with a preliminary grade of 168 carats per 100 tonnes, or 1.68 carats per tonne. Delineation drilling is continuing.
Geophysical work suggests a magnetic signature representing the pipe covers 40 ha. At present, only 10 ha have been tested, and drill results indicate the diatreme phase extends over 6.5 ha, measuring at least 320 metres from west to east. The pipe remains open to the west, north and east.
In the latest drilling, hole 44 intersected the crater facies at a depth of 72 metres, and the kimberlite diatreme at 189 metres. The hole was still in kimberlite at a 247-metre depth.
Hole 47 also intersected the crater facies at 53 metres, and the diatreme at 167 metres.
Archangel’s joint-venture partner is Russian state-owned
Archangelskgeoldobycha, which holds a half interest. The remaining 10% is held privately.
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