Snow Bunting Yields Large Diamonds
Thirteen samples from the Snow Bunting kimberlite combine to form two composite samples: SB1 and SB2. Sample SB1, weighing 163.04 kilograms, yielded 77 diamonds; eighteen (23%) of the diamonds are classified as macrodiamonds including four stones (5%) greater than 1mm in at least one dimension as shown in the table below. Sample SB2, a 54.64 kilogram sample, yielded 11 diamonds with one stone greater than 0.5mm in two dimensions.
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Sample Weight DIAMONDS RECOVERED
(kg) Total +0.5 mm 1.0 mm
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1 Axis 2 Axes 1 Axis 2 Axes 3 Axes
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SB1 163.04 77 18 7 4 2 1
SB2 54.64 11 1 1 0 0 0
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The largest stones from the two Snow Bunting samples have the following dimensional measurements:
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Five largest stones (mm)
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Sample X Y Z
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SB1 1.34 1.14 1.20
SB1 1.23 1.00 0.68
SB1 1.05 0.94 0.88
SB1 1.00 0.71 0.53
SB2 0.97 0.60 0.43
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Full Square Mesh Sieve diamond results for the Snow Bunting kimberlite samples are shown below. These results demonstrate a highly favourable diamond size distribution confirming the presence of larger diamonds in samples of increased size at Snow Bunting.
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Sieve Sizes (mm) TOTAL
Sample Wt
(Kg) +1.18 +0.850 +0.6 +0.425 +0.3 +0.212 +0.15 +0.1
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SB1 163.04 1 2 0 3 10 17 22 22 77
SB2 54.64 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 3 11
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The high proportion of large diamonds in the Snow Bunting kimberlite, indicates the potential for this kimberlite to carry economic diamond grades. The 2003 results from Snow Bunting are consistent with other kimberlites along the Galaxy Structure, and with 2002 diamond results for Snow Bunting from which 15 diamonds were recovered from a 16 kilogram sample with 27% greater than 0.5 mm in two dimensions.
The Snow Bunting kimberlite dyke is outlined by a distinct magnetic anomaly up to 200 metres long. This kimberlite forms part of the 2.7 kilometre long continuous segment of diamond-enriched kimberlite dykes and blows along the southeast end of the 20 kilometre Galaxy Kimberlite Structure. The 2.7 kilometres segment of continuous diamondiferous kimberlite includes the Snow Bunting, Virgo, Sand Piper East, Sand Piper and Vega kimberlites.
Two adjacent kimberlite lithologies have been identified in Snow Bunting: a northern, dominant olivine macrocrystic hypabyssal kimberlite with mantle derived indicator minerals, and a southern, strongly serpentinized and clay altered olivine macrocrystic kimberlite with abundant kimberlite magmaclasts. Sample SB1 is a composite of 10 sub-samples from the hypabyssal kimberlite and SB2 is a composite of 3 sub-samples from the altered kimberlite.
Drill hole BI-03-11, from which samples SB1 and SB2 were obtained, drilled at -84o inclination to maximize sample volume, intersected 91.48 metres of kimberlite in two dykes before terminating in kimberlite. Estimated true thickness of the main northern kimberlite is eight metres, however its complete thickness at 90 metres is not known as the drill hole ended in this zone.
A high proportion of the Snow Bunting diamonds within samples SB1 and SB2 are transparent and white (colourless). Of particular interest, four pink diamonds were recovered; other colours include yellow, off-white and brown. A summary of colours and clarity of the recovered diamonds are shown in the table below.
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No. % % %
stones Transparent Translucent Opaque
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All stones 88 81% 16% 3%
White 68 85% 13% 1%
Off white 10 80% 20% 20%
Pink 4 100% 0% 0%
Yellow 4 50% 50% 0%
Brown 2 50% 50% 0%
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Kimberlite samples were split and logged in secure facilities at the field camp by qualified geoscientists. Samples were securely sealed in solid containers and shipped by air to SGS Lakefield Research in Ontario. SGS Lakefield's standard caustic fusion diamond recovery method was utilized for all samples. SGS Lakefield is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the ISO/IEC Guide 25 standard for specific registered tests.
Diamonds North Resources Ltd. is a diamond exploration company with ten projects covering over two million acres of land in Canada's Nunavut and Northwest Territories. Eight projects are located on Victoria Island and two projects are adjacent to the De Beers/Mountain Province Kennady Lake advanced stage discovery.
On behalf of Diamonds North Resources Ltd.
Mark Kolebaba
President
For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communications: Nancy Curry
Diamonds North Resources Ltd.
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Website: https://diamondsnorthresources.com
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