Subject:
Stockwatch: SouthernEra Resources Limited - News Release
Date:
Mon, 30 Aug 1999 11:25:44 -0700
F
Dentonia et al to conduct infrared study on Tli Kwi Cho bulk sample
SouthernEra Resources Limited SUF
Shares issued 26,881,395 Aug 27 close $3.06
Mon 30 Aug 99 News Release
See Dentonia Resources Ltd (DTA) News Release
Mr. Adolf Petancic reports
Dentonia Resources, with the co-operation of Kennecott Canada Exploration
Inc., retained the services of Dr. Felix Kaminsky to conduct an infrared
spectral study (IR-study) on a representative sample of diamonds and on a
number of diamonds selected by Kennecott for an inclusion study. These
diamonds were selected from the DO27 (TIi Kwi Cho) bulk sample obtained in
1994. This study is to be carried out at the Institute of Diamonds in
Moscow within the next few weeks.
This study will establish the degree of different nitrogen impurities in a
diamond crystal, i.e. isolated (type I), pairs (type II), and clusters
(type IaB) of nitrogen atoms in the diamond crystal and thus provide a
yardstick to determine the length of time and under what possible
conditions the diamonds grew in the earth's mantle before being transported
to the surface by a kimberlite eruption. Comparison of these results and
their ratios with results of similar studies of diamonds from other areas
(Siberia, Archangel'sk, South Africa, Brazil and Venezuela -- these data
are available in Moscow) will provide answers as to the possibility of
finding larger diamonds in the DO27 diamond population from the ones
observed in the diamond population of the 1994 bulk sample. <P> To recall,
the results released on Aug. 4, 1994, were as follows: 1,258 dry tonnes
were recovered from a hypabyssal facies or sill (of no commercial interest)
grading 0.013 carats/tonne valued at $33 (U.S.)/ct and 3,003 dry tonnes
were recovered from the pyroclastic facies grading 0.359 ct/tonne valued at
$21 (U.S.)/ct. The following observation was also made, "Preliminary
inspection of diamonds shows that the greater than two millimetre diamonds
are predominantly of industrial quality."
This observation is somewhat at variance with both Howard Cooper-Smith's
(DHK Consultant Report dated August, 1998) and Dr. Kaminsky's observations.
To quote (Howard Cooper-Smith):
"Although larger goods in the two to 10 carat range are present, more
two to five carats should be present in 1,000 carats., These (stones)
are perfectly commercial goods, however, the better quality stones are
truncated with size. This could be natural distribution or it could be
the result of loss."
To quote (Dr. Kaminsky):
2. "There is a lot of crystal varieties among the diamonds in the
samples. Morphologically they vary from perfect flat-faced octahedra
to grey cubes, with a predominance of dodecahedral stones. This means
that here are possibly two or more diamond populations, which were
distributed among kimberlite varieties inhomogeniously. For example, I
observed cubic crystals only among hypabyssal kimberlite samples.
3. "There is a small amount of stones with graphite inclusions. This
points to a probable high-pressure origin of the DO-27 diamonds. On
the other hand, the presence of grey cubes with graphite inclusions
points to low-temperature conditions of diamond growth. This is either
a unique combination of thermodynamic P-T conditions in the magmatic
system, or the result of different population mixing.
4. "There is a small amount of polycrystalline aggregates, intergrows and
twins among the diamonds.
5. "The diamonds are only slightly resorpt. This points to good
preservation conditions in the pipe. I expect to find a "cold"
geotherm for this pipe, it should be about 35 mWm squared.
6. "The colour, clarity and the quality of the diamonds are good. If
there were larger stones among the DO-27 diamonds, the average price
for them could reach $50 to $60 (U.S.)/ct and more.
"I recommend a detailed IR-spectral studying of the DO-27 diamonds.
Determination of different nitrogen impurities in DO-27 diamonds,
calculation of their concentration, statistical analysis of these data
and their comparison with other worldwide data will give us a
possibility to answer the question: are there large stones in the
00-27 pipe or not?"
In addition to the IR-study in Moscow, a study will be carried out at
GFIVIOC National Key Centre, Macquairie University, New South Wales,
Australia, under a Kennecott/Australian government grant of $200,000 to
confirm the Moscow IR results together with an inclusion study of some of
the diamonds. The inclusion study will determine the parageneses of the
diamond population on a larger sample than previously undertaken. A
previous study has shown that the diamonds from the D027 have a super deep
(over 670 kilometre), eclogitic, and peridotitic parageneses (origins) and
all three types of diamonds were present, i.e. type 1, type II, and type
IaB, in the 1994 bulk sample. The work in Australia will be carried out
under the direction of W. L. Griffin with the assistance of Dr. Kaminsky.
>From results published by other diamond companies operating in the
Northwest Territories such as the Ekati mine, Aber Resources, and Mountain
Province it is known that the diamond populations in a pipe are distributed
inhomogenously. To put the bulk sample obtained in 1994 in perspective,
and, therefore, question the randomness of the sample and its statistical
validity to extrapolate the results to the rest of the pipe, it should be
noted that only .013 per cent by weight and 2 per cent of the surface area,
100 metres below surface, at the northeast corner of the DO27 pipe, was
sampled.
The pyroclastic surface area of the pipe is calculated to be nine hectares,
or 90,000 square metres.
With the area of the highest microdiamond count not being tested, this
microdiamond count being approximately two times greater than the count in
the area tested and the bulk sample lacking randomness, it would appear
that the remainder of the pipe should be retested by a more random method,
i.e. by a large diameter reverse circulation drill over a wider surface
area and at the same time testing vertically the various layers of the
pipe.
If the IR studies are positive, it is the first step in a possible
retesting of the DO27.
Dentonia has a one-third equity interest in DHK Resources Ltd. (equally
owned by Dentonia, Horseshoe Gold Mining Inc. and Kettle River Resources
Ltd.) which currently owns a 35-per-cent interest in the DO27 (Tli Kwi
Cho). Other participants in the D027 are Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc.
40 per cent, Aber Resources Ltd. 15 per cent, and SouthernEra Resources
Ltd. 10 per cent.
(c) Copyright 1999 Canjex Publishing Ltd. canada-stockwatch.com
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