Author: WillP -- Date:2001-05-01 16:44:37
Mr. Randy Turner reports
Diamondex Resources has provided a progress report on its exploration activities on the King property, NWT. The King property is situated approximately 220 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife and immediately adjoins the northern boundary of the Camsell Lake property that contains the Snap Lake diamond deposit owned by De Beers Canada Mining Inc. The King property is 100 per cent owned by Diamondex.
The Snap Lake diamond deposit comprises a diamond-bearing kimberlite dike averaging about 2.5 metres thick that dips approximately 15 degrees northerly towards the King property boundary. Diamondex's exploration program on the King property is directed toward testing for an extension of this dike or other manifestation of the kimberlite.
Drill results
The first two vertical drill holes have been completed to depth. Kimberlite was intersected in both holes at the expected depth. Wedges are presently being set to obtain an additional intersection through the kimberlite at each drill site.
Drill hole No. 1 is situated approximately 200 metres north of the King-Camsell property boundary and about 1,400 metres west of the hole completed last year by SouthemEra Resources Ltd. collared near the eastern boundary of the King property. Over a 60-metre interval beginning at a depth of 1,101 metres, drill hole No. 1 intersected 17 gently dipping kimberlite dikes ranging in thickness from two to 33 centimetres. The cumulative thickness of these kimberlite dikes totals 1.66 metres. With the exception of a single 25-centimetre-thick olivine-rich dike, all kimberlite dikes comprise material similar to that characterizing the Snap Lake kimberlite system. Over a distance of about 60 metres above the uppermost kimberlite dike, gently dipping fractures marked by thin alteration halos similar to those found on the hanging wall and footwall of each of the kimberlite dikes, occur at intervals in the granite. These fractures extend only three metres below the last kimberlite dike and are considered to be related to emplacement of the kimberlite dike system. Drill hole No. 1 was completed at a depth of 1,343 metres and, with the exception of the kimberlite dikes and other mafic dikes, remained in granitic rocks throughout.
At the present time, wedges are being set in the hole with the objective of obtaining a second intersection through this kimberlite zone approximately 100 metres northwest of that encountered in the pilot hole.
Drill hole No. 2 is located approximately 800 metres west of drill hole No. 1 and approximately 200 metres north of the King-Camsell property boundary. Over a 24-metre vertical interval beginning at 1,147 metres, drill hole No. 2 intersected eight kimberlite dikes ranging in thickness from one centimetre to 1.63 metres. Cumulatively, these kimberlite intersections total 2.56 metres and comprise both hypabyssal kimberlite and kimberlite breccia in approximately equal proportions.
Gently dipping altered fractures occur in the host granite up to about 30 metres above the first kimberlite dike and eight metres below the lowermost kimberlite dike in this zone. A second zone of gently dipping altered fractures in host granite was intersected between 1,269 metres and 1,306 metres in this hole.
This zone contains a single three-centimetre-thick kimberlite dike. Drill hole No. 2 was completed at a depth of 1,339 metres and, with the exception of the noted kimberlite dikes and interspersed mafic dikes, was in granitic rocks throughout.
Currently, wedges are also being set in this hole to obtain a second intersection through the kimberlite zone. A third intersection is planned for this hole to intersect the kimberlite zone about 20 metres from the original intersection. Kimberlite intersected from each of the first two holes will be submitted for caustic fusion analysis upon completion of the wedge holes. Current geological information supports the inference that the kimberlite system strengthens toward the north and northwest of drill hole No. 2. A third rig has been contracted for the program and the next three holes will be drilled to the west, north and northwest of hole No. 2.
Seismic program
Diamondex, De Beers Canada Mining Inc. and the University of British Columbia are currently collaborating in an experiment to determine whether the Snap Lake kimberlite dike presently being explored by De Beers can be identified at depth by seismic techniques. Work is progressing on a test seismic survey that will be conducted along a line bearing northeast that extends from the northwest peninsula on Snap Lake to about three kilometres north of the King-Camsell property boundary.
Additional test surveys are planned for the ice on Snap Lake. If the seismic technique can be applied to the King property, it could prove useful in establishing continuity of kimberlite between drill holes and possibly help test for other manifestations of the kimberlite that have not yet been encountered.
Infrastructure
Since the beginning of the field season in mid-February, a 24-man camp has been established on the King property and sufficient fuel has been mobilized over the winter road to support all planned activities on the property for the remainder of the year.
Summary
Results to date strongly indicate that the Snap Lake kimberlite system and possibly the northwest dike presently being considered by De Beers for mining at Snap Lake, extends into the King property. The encouragement offered by these results has prompted commissioning of a third drill, which will permit a more rapid evaluation of the property.
(c) Copyright 2001 Canjex Publishing Ltd. |
