Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. has discovered seven additional kimberlites on the 9,800 square kilometre Chidliak project, located approximately 120 kilometres northeast of Iqaluit on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. Five of the seven kimberlites were discovered by drilling geophysical anomalies, while two were discovered at surface while prospecting geophysical anomalies.
The field portion of the 2009 Chidliak exploration programme is now complete. Between July 3 and September 8, thirteen new kimberlites were discovered at Chidliak, seven by drilling and six by prospecting and mapping, bringing the total number of kimberlites discovered to date on the Project to sixteen.
All of the 16 presently known kimberlites and four of the five kimberlite float occurrences that have yet to be definitively linked to a kimberlite source fall within a rectangular area with dimensions of approximately 30 kilometres east-west and 17 kilometres north-south. Brooke Clements, President of Peregrine stated “We are very encouraged by the rate at which kimberlites are being discovered at Chidliak. During this summer’s field season, in only 68 days, our crew averaged one new kimberlite discovery every five days. In addition, the presence of both kimberlite indicator minerals with diamond inclusion chemistry and untested high priority kimberlite-type geophysical anomalies both within and well outside of the area where kimberlites were discovered in the 2008 and 2009 programmes, indicates that there is excellent potential for the discovery of many more diamondiferous kimberlites at Chidliak.”
Planning has begun for the 2010 Chidliak exploration programme which is currently scheduled to commence in April with the drilling of lake-based geophysical anomalies. The programme likely will include additional work on a number of the known kimberlites, an expanded airborne geophysical survey, ground geophysical surveys, utilization of more than one drill rig to test multiple geophysical anomalies, continued prospecting, mapping and geochemical sampling of anomalies and the collection of additional indicator mineral samples.
Peregrine is the operator of the 2009 Chidliak exploration programme which is being fully funded by BHP Billiton. As announced on November 24, 2008, BHP Billiton has elected to exercise its earn-in rights for Chidliak and, under the terms of the earn-in agreement, must incur a total of $22.3 million dollars in exploration expenditures in order to earn a 51% interest in the Property.
Related posts:
- Peregrine Discovers Four Additional Kimberlites at Chidliak, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Peregrine Diamonds Discovers Six New Kimberlites at Chidliak
- Peregrine Discovers Kimberlite Indicator And Precious Metal Anomalies At Qilaq; 1.5 Million Hectares Of New Prospecting Permits Acquired On Baffin Island
- Peregrine Diamonds Discovers 6 More Kimberlites at Chidliak Diamond Project
- Diamond Miner Peregrine Announces $13.5 Million, 2010 Diamond Exploration Programme at Chidliak, Baffin Island, Canada
