Band-Ore Resources - Large Macrodiamonds Found On Wawa, GQ Property
Burlington,Ontario. - Monday, March 19, 2001, 4:00 PM EST
The Company is pleased to report high numbers of macrodiamonds
and very high numbers of microdiamonds from four 24kg samples in
the area of its new "AREA E" diamond discovery.
5045 microdiamonds and 65 macrodiamonds were recovered from the
four samples. This total includes the largest diamond recovered
to date from all sample material processed for diamond recovery
from the property. The diamonds vary in colour, clarity, and
form, and include diamonds described as broken and fragments.
Colour of the diamonds varies from clear to white, grey, pink,
and yellow. The 65 macrodiamonds include 5 diamonds with a
dimension of at least 1mm. The recovery of these larger diamonds
is particularly significant in light of the fact that the samples
are only geological or prospecting samples and the four random
samples total weight is only 96kg. Ashton Canada on its website
(www.ashton.ca) and in reference to processing 20-250kg samples
by caustic fusion for microdiamond states "Commercial-sized
diamonds are not expected to be recovered at this stage."
The "Area E" diamond discovery on the company's 100% owned GQ
Property, located 20km west of Wawa, was first announced in a
news release dated February 14, 2001.
The largest diamond measured 1.94mm x 1.54mm x 1.16mm and weighed
4.52mg. Sample 68880, a 24kg sample from near source boulder
material returned the highest diamond counts;
2908 diamonds including 26 macrodiamonds.
The company has now processed 8 samples from the "Area E" diamond
discovery for diamond recovery. The samples were collected from
seven near source boulders and one outcrop exposure. The boulders
and outcrop cover an area of nearly 200m in a northwest
direction, parallel to the enclosing Archean volcanic basalts,
and 100m in a northeast direction. The ultimate dimensions of
the "Area E" diamond discovery have yet to be determined.
No detailed geological mapping, mechanical stripping or detailed
prospecting have been completed in the discovery area. The
geology of the discovery appears to be a slight variation from
most of the other diamondiferous areas on the property. The
company interprets the new discovery to be a diatreme or
stratabound volcaniclastic horizon. It has been determined that
the entire Archean volcanic package of lithologies is overturned
and the top of the volcanic sequence actually faces down, with a
dip of about 40 degrees, thus making the "Area E" diamond
discovery the lowest (possibly oldest) discovered to date in the
area.
Petrological, mineralogical, and chemical studies are underway.
These studies will be augmented with additional field data as
that information becomes available.
Based upon these very high diamond counts the Company has
contracted independent consulting geologist and Qualified Person,
Dr. Ed Walker, to review the sample results. Dr. Walker will
conduct an immediate field visit to the "Area E" diamond
discovery to collect additional, independent, larger size samples
of the diamond bearing material. Dr. Walker will also ensure
quality control and security of the sample material for delivery
to two independent certified diamond-processing laboratories.
The company's samples were processed at the Saskatchewan Research
Council (SRC) Laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The samples
were processed by caustic fusion for microdiamond recovery. In
this process, eight kg, or multiples thereof, are fused in molten
caustic soda which attacks and dissolves the rock leaving the
diamonds behind to be collected and examined. SRC monitors
recovery efficiencies by adding synthetic tracer diamonds to each
sample. Diamonds, if present are picked from the concentrate,
weighed and then described. The recovery of the synthetic
diamonds is reported to the client for each sample. The company's
qualified persons, Robert Duess and Bruce Durham collected and
shipped all of the samples taken to date.
Six additional samples were processed from other areas of the
property. Three of these samples were found to contain 1, 16, and
22 microdiamonds.
The details of the samples and the diamonds recovered to date
from the "Area E" diamond discovery are summarized below;
Size Sample Results and Diamond Distribution "AREA E"
Sample Weight (kg) 1mm or larger .5mm to .99mm .3mm to .49mm
68880 24 1 25 50
68884 24 2 21 31
68888 24 0 5 11
68889 24 1 10 23
68881* 16 0 11 27
68882* 16 0 0 3
68883* 16 1 0 10
68887* 16 0 13 78
Total 160 5 85 233
Sample <.3mm Total Weight (mg) Carats per
of diamonds tonne
68880 2858 2934 25.54 5.32
68884 809 886 9.67 2.01
68888 634 639 4.43 0.92
68889 617 651 7.49 1.56
68881* 282 320 3.48 1.09
68882* 125 128 0.75 0.23
68883* 30 41 1.64 0.51
68887* 396 487 3.76 1.18
Total 5751 6086 56.76 1.77
Note: * = Results previously released.
The carat per tonne values are shown for comparative
purposes only.
An accelerated program of geological mapping, mechanical
stripping and detailed prospecting will commence next month as
the field season begins.
Pictures of diamonds from the GQ property, a map of the Wawa area
projects of the Company and a map of the GQ property can be
viewed on the Company website www.band-ore.com.
For further information contact Wayne J. O'Connor, President
905 319 7469.
THE PRESS RELEASE WAS PREPARED BY BAND-ORE RESOURCES LTD., WHICH
ACCEPTS THE RESPONSIBILITY AS TO ITS ACCURACY. NO REGULATORY
AUTHORITIES OR SIMILAR BODY, HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. |
