Diamonds North Resources Ltd. has recovered larger stones from the Beluga-3 kimberlite on its 100% owned Amaruk Property located in Nunavut, Canada. A 6.7 tonne sample collected by reverse circulation drilling and processed by dense media separation yielded a total of 126 diamonds above the 0.5 mm mesh including 9 stones on the 1.18 mm mesh and 1 stone on the 1.70 mm mesh.
The diamond recovered from the 1.70 mm mesh measures 2.6 mm x 2.0 mm x 1.0 mm and is a fragment with an estimated 60% loss. In addition, 5 of the 9 diamonds on the 1.18 mm screen are fragments with varying characteristics (4 of the stones show an estimated 60% loss). A high proportion of the diamonds recovered are white, clear octahedrons.
“The recovery of a diamond fragment on the 1.70 mm screen from a small sample is what we needed to see from Beluga–3. This result not only validates our new targeting strategy of testing kimberlite with a subtle magnetic signature but provides a new kimberlite body requiring a larger bulk sample,” says Mark Kolebaba, President & CEO of Diamonds North.
The sample was designed to test Beluga-3 for larger stones before committing to a more costly bulk sample. The collection cost using the reverse circulation drill was less than $200,000 compared to the use of a core drill which would have cost approximately $1,000,000. The recovery of a diamond on the 1.70mm screen warrants the collection of a larger sample.
The Company has successfully joint funded the development of a low cost, light weight bulk sampling drill that utilizes reverse circulation without percussion to reduce and or eliminate diamond breakage. Plans to mobilize the drill to Amaruk are being considered. Estimated collection cost with this drill rig is $10 per kilogram in contrast with core drilling which is approximately $150 per kilogram.
An 851 kilogram Kanguq kimberlite sample was also processed by dense media separation. No diamonds above the 0.5 mm mesh were recovered. It is important to note that while Kanguq kimberlite does not warrant further work, it represents a new kimberlite cluster on the property.
Drill chips were logged in secure facilities at the Amaruk field camp by geoscientists. Samples were sealed with security tags and shipped to Saskatchewan Research Council Laboratory (SRC) for processing by dense media separation. SRC is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the ISO/IEC Guide 25 standard for specific registered tests. As part of an ongoing Quality Control & Quality Assurance program, Diamonds North will conduct reviews and audits of results.
About Diamonds North
Diamonds North Resources is rapidly evolving and committed to building long-term value for shareholders through ongoing discoveries and leveraging business opportunities from its vast land holding.
Related posts:
- Diamonds North Begins Processing Beluga-3 Bulk Sample To Test For Larger Diamonds
- Diamonds North Plans Bulk Sample of Beluga-3 Kimberlite
- Diamonds North Raising US$400,000 For Amaruk in Nunavut
- Diamonds North to Begin Processing Beluga-3 Bulk Sample
- Diamonds North Begin Diamond and Gold Programs On Amaruk
