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Vancouver, April 27, 2004 - Diamonds North Resources Ltd. (DDN-TSX Venture) announces the recovery of two large diamonds from the eastern portion of the Sandpiper kimberlite. The largest stone recovered measures 3.62mm x 2.00mm x 1.03mm with a second stone measuring 2.34mm x 1.00mm x 0.81mm. These large stones were recovered from a 629.64 kilogram sample (SP1) of frost-heaved kimberlite boulders that returned a total of 221 diamonds. The sample yielded 23 (10%) diamonds classified as macrodiamonds with at least one dimension greater than 0.5mm, including one pink diamond with all three dimensions greater than 0.5mm.
Additionally, 18 diamonds were recovered from a 39.4 kilogram composite sample (SP2) of drill core collected from a single drill hole located 18 metres east of sample SP1. Seven diamonds from SP2 (39%) are classified as macrodiamonds. Twenty-nine diamonds were also recovered from sample SP3; a 22.27 kilogram sample of drill core collected from a second drill hole located approximately 300 metres to the east of samples SP1 and SP2. Six (21%) of the diamonds from SP3 are classified as macrodiamonds.
These results are from the 2003 exploration program on the Blue Ice Project which was jointly funded by Diamonds North and Teck Cominco Limited. The largest stones from the Sandpiper samples have dimensions as noted in Table A below:
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Table A: Largest stones (mm) Table B
Sample X Y Z Reference
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SP1 3.62 2.00 1.03 (1)
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SP1 2.34 1.00 0.81 (2)
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SP2 1.43 1.08 0.36 (3)
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Full Square Mesh Sieve diamond results for samples SP1, SP2 and SP3 are presented in Table B. These results demonstrate the presence of larger stones and a favorable diamond size distribution at Sandpiper.
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Table B: | Sieve Sizes
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| +1.180 +0.600 + 0.300 +0.150
| mm mm mm mm
Sample | +0.850 + 0.425 +0.212 +0.100
Sample Wt (Kg)| mm mm mm mm TOTAL
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SP1 629.64 | 1(1) 1(2) 3 5 13 20 61 117 221
SP2 39.4 | 0 1(3) 1 2 2 3 4 5 18
SP3 22.27 | 0 0 0 1 5 4 9 10 29
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The colour and clarity of the diamonds recovered from all three of the 2003 Sandpiper samples are summarized in Table C below.
Table C:
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Colour No. Stones Transparent Translucent Opaque
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All Stones 268 198 68 2
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White 240 190 50 0
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Off White 10 4 4 2
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Brown 5 3 2 0
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Pink 1 0 1 0
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Yellow 12 1 11 0
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The diamond recoveries from the drill hole samples (SP2 & SP3) show strong variation between the discrete kimberlite units. In composite sample SP2, 13 of the 18 recovered diamonds and the two largest stones were from a 12.0 kilogram portion of the sample collected from the northern part of the drill intersection. In contrast, the southernmost 27.4 kilogram portion of sample SP2 produced only 5 stones. Similarly, in composite sample SP3, a 4.7 kilogram sample from the central dyke yielded 23 diamonds while the remaining 17.57 kilograms collected from several kimberlite dykes on either side of the central dyke yielded only 6 stones. The strong variability in diamond counts from different kimberlite units at Sandpiper may explain the difference between the 2002 (see news release September 18, 2002) and 2003 results. Additional testing of the various units will be required to better understand the diamond distribution at Sandpiper and elsewhere along the Galaxy Kimberlite Structure.
The Sandpiper kimberlite is represented geophysically by an oblong magnetic low measuring approximately 600 metres in length, and 50 to 150 metres in width. This anomaly joins with the Vega kimberlite at its western end and forms part of the 2.7 kilometre long diamondiferous trend along the southeast portion of the Galaxy Kimberlite Structure.
The initial drill hole was drilled at -85°, across the kimberlite structure from north to south. The hole encountered a hypabyssal kimberlite breccia zone containing abundant and varied indicator minerals from a downhole depth of 27.94 to 37.86 metres before intersecting a competent olivine macrocrystic hypabyssal kimberlite with lesser mantle derived minerals to a downhole depth of 49.50 metres.
A second drill hole, located 300 metres to the east of the first hole, was drilled at -60° to the southeast, oblique to the kimberlite structure. This hole encountered a kimberlite dyke complex intruding local limestone between downhole depths of 23.80 to 51.40 metres. The seven intersected dykes are described as hypabyssal kimberlite and range from 0.03 to 1.09 metres, true width. The central dyke (0.42 metres true width) contained abundant indicator minerals and returned approximately 80% of the diamonds recovered from sample SP3.
Kimberlite samples were collected and logged under the supervision of qualified geoscientists. Samples were securely sealed in solid containers and shipped by air to SGS Lakefield 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 17025 standard for specific registered tests.
Mr. D. G. Gill, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Diamonds North Resources Ltd. and was responsible for implementing the 2003 Blue Ice program and providing quality control on all data returned.
Diamonds North holds more than seven million acres of prospective land in Canada. The main project areas include Victoria Island, Kidme which is adjacent to De Beers' Gahcho Kué project, and a potential new kimberlite field on the Amaruk property in the eastern arctic. Diamonds North's projects range from early stage target generation to more advanced kimberlite evaluation. Diamonds North explores independently and in joint venture with other diamond exploration companies. Exploration partners include Teck Cominco Limited, SouthernEra Resources Ltd, Majescor Resources Inc. and BHP Billiton Diamonds.
On behalf of Diamonds North Resources Ltd.
Mark Kolebaba,
President
For further information, please contact: Corporate Communications: Nancy CurryDiamonds North Resources Ltd.Telephone: Facsimile: Website: diamondsnorthresources.comEmail:
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this news release
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