THE DIAMOND PAGE — More kimberlitic bodies found in Alberta

Three additional kimberlitic-textured bodies have been discovered in the Buffalo Hills area of north-central Alberta, bringing the total to five.

Partners Ashton Mining of Canada (RCA-T) and Pure Gold Resources (PUG-T) have pulled kimberlitic rock displaying crater and diatreme facies from each of the first five exploration holes drilled on five separate geophysical anomalies.

The drilling effort is testing a series of 10 isolated geophysical anomalies, all of which exhibit characteristics of pipe-like structures.

The three latest holes were drilled vertically through glacial overburden before passing into kimberlitic material. The bodies were covered by overburden thicknesses of 6.7 metres over anomaly 14, 64 metres over anomaly 7A, and 13.4 metres over anomaly 6-1.

The holes were still in kimberlite when drilling ceased at depths of 200 metres.

Under a joint-venture agreement with a major Alberta energy firm, Pure Gold has funded the first $500,000 to earn a 15% interest. Ashton Mining is operator of the project and can earn a 42.5% interest by funding the next $5 million.

The joint venture covers a land position totalling 5.8 million acres in the Buffalo Hills area, northeast of Grande Prairie.

Other exploration companies holding ground in the immediate area of Buffalo Hills include: New Claymore Resources (NCS-V), with more than 2 million acres; Montello Resources (MEO-A), which recently acquired an additional 3.4 million acres by staking, raising its total holdings to more than 4 million acres; and Troymin Resources (TYR-A), which holds close to 1.6 million acres.