Mano River Resources Inc - News Release
Mano River receives Kpo results
Mano River Resources Inc MNO
Shares issued 89,797,670 2001-03-30 close $0.17
Monday Apr 2 2001 News Release
Mr. Tom Elder reports
Mano River has received the results of independent testwork on three microdiamond samples taken from the newly discovered K001 and K002 kimberlite pipes on its Kpo Range licence in western Liberia. The testwork, involving caustic fusion, diamond extraction, selection and description processes were conducted by Lakefield Research Limited at its laboratory in Canada. Both microdiamonds and macrodiamonds were recovered from the samples, the detailed results of which are described below.
The company is most encouraged by, firstly, the relatively short time it has taken to make this important discovery of the first kimberlite cluster, secondly, the fact that the newly discovered kimberlites are clearly pipes, rather than dikes and, thirdly, that these very first pipes sampled have proven to be diamondiferous. (Industry experience has shown that pipes, being amenable to bulk mining, are more likely than dikes to be economic.)
These results, taken together with the fact that on March 26 the company announced in Stockwatch the discovery of a third kimberlite pipe, designated K003, situated in the same cluster approximately 500 metres from K001, give Mano the confidence to contemplate a more intense exploration effort in the area of this important new Liberian discovery.
K001 kimberlite pipe results
The K001 pipe has approximate surface dimensions of 200 metres by 110 metres and is dominated by diatreme facies kimberlite at surface. Hypabyssal facies kimberlite outcrops in one area of the pipe, apparently in the form of a crosscutting body of limited extent. Both facies types were sampled for microdiamond analysis.
The diatreme facies kimberlite sample weighed 122.33 kilograms (wet) and was collected from three outcropping areas along the western margin of the pipe. Approximately 18 diamonds were recovered of which four (22 per cent) are classified as macrodiamonds, having at least one dimension in excess of 0.5 millimetre. The 18 diamonds weighed a total of 0.018 carat, with the largest stone measuring 1.23 mm by 0.88 mm by 0.83 mm (for a weight of 0.00798 carat). Approximately 17 of the 18 diamonds (94.4 per cent) are classified as white and transparent with one stone (5.6 per cent) being classified as off-white and translucent. A total of 11 diamonds (61 per cent) are octahedral in shape, with four (22 per cent) being macles and three (17 per cent) being fragments.
The hypabyssal facies kimberlite sample weighed 84.5 kg (wet) and was collected from a single outcrop near the western margin of the pipe. It yielded one microdiamond described as a white transparent fragment weighing 0.008 carat and measuring 0.26 mm by 0.20 mm by 0.12 mm.
K002 kimberlite pipe results
The K002 pipe has approximate surface dimensions of 400 metres by 50 metres and comprises both diatreme and hypabyssal facies kimberlite. The single sample collected from this kimberlite weighed 102.55 kg (wet) and was taken from hypabyssal kimberlite. Approximately 10 diamonds were recovered, of which two (20 per cent) are classified as macrodiamonds. The 10 diamonds weighed a total of 0.003 carat, with the largest diamond measuring 0.6 mm by 0.51 mm by 0.37 mm (for a weight of 0.0011175 carat). Approximately nine of the 10 diamonds (90 per cent) are classified as white and transparent with one stone (10 per cent) being classified as grey and translucent. A total of five diamonds (50 per cent) are octahedral in shape, with two (20 per cent) being macles and three (30 per cent) being fragments. Local artisanal miners have been exploiting both the thin gravels and the surface weathered zone of the kimberlite for some time, which suggests that the K002 kimberlite may contain macrodiamonds of greater than two millimetres, since this is the minimum sieve sized used by the artisans.
Future exploration to be accelerated
The company believes that the positive microdiamond results from K001 and K002 warrant an accelerated follow-up exploration program in the immediate area, to investigate other high interest anomalies that are thought to be related to additional kimberlites in this newly discovered diamondiferous kimberlite cluster. The aim, subject to the availability of financing, will be to implement a drilling program in the near future to delineate the kimberlite pipes at depth and to supply fresher and more representative kimberlite for future analyses.
(c) Copyright 2001 Canjex Publishing Ltd. canada-stockwatch.com
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