Ashton Announces Additional Artemisia and Perseus Microdiamond Results
For the record, we'll post here as well but all the actions seems to have shifter to SH.
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2002--Robert T. Boyd, President and CEO of Ashton
Mining of Canada Inc. (TSE: ACA. - news; ``Ashton'' or ``the Corporation''), is pleased to report additional diamond results
for the Artemisia and Perseus kimberlites located in the north Slave craton region of Nunavut.
Artemisia Kimberlite
The Artemisia kimberlite was discovered by drilling on the Kim property in September 2001. Geologic mapping suggests that
Artemisia is at least 150 m by 140 m in size. Initial microdiamond results from samples of drill core were reported on
November 1, 2001.
Additional kimberlite samples consisting of 142.8 kg of material from the drill core and 85.5 kg of material from surface
exposures have now been processed for microdiamonds by caustic dissolution at Ashton's North Vancouver laboratory. The
drill core was extracted from a hole located at the interpreted center of the body. The surface sample was collected from talus
and outcrop at three separate locations, 60 m northeast, 71 m west and 48 m southeast of the drill collar. Both the drill core
and surface sample consist of homogeneous diatreme facies kimberlite.
Microdiamond results from these tests, together with the previous results, are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Artemisia Microdiamond Summary
Sample Type Date Reported Sample Weight Diamonds
(kg) Micro Macro
(0.1-0.5 mm) (a)0.5 mm (one
dimension)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Drill Core November 1, 2001 103.2 342 38 (Note 1)
Drill Core January 18, 2002 142.8 470 48 (Note 2)
Surface
Material January 18, 2002 85.5 309 34 (Note 3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 331.5 1,121 120
(a)greater than or equal to
Notes
1. Thirteen of the macrodiamonds are greater than 0.5 mm in two
dimensions. The three largest stones measure 1.23 x 1.15 x 1.10 mm,
1.13 x 0.80 x 0.68 mm, and 0.94 x 0.92 x 0.80 mm.
2. Thirteen of the macrodiamonds are greater than 0.5 mm in two
dimensions. The three largest stones measure 1.24 x 1.05 x 0.80 mm,
1.00 x 0.84 x 0.52 mm and 0.92 x 0.72 x 0.60 mm.
3. Twelve of the macrodiamonds are greater than 0.5 mm in two
dimensions with the largest stone measuring 0.95 x 0.73 x 0.70 mm.
A sample of kimberlite exposed at surface and weighing approximately 1.2 tonnes was collected during the fall 2001 drilling
program. This material will be processed for macrodiamonds through Ashton's dense media separation plant. Results will be
reported as soon as they are available.
Perseus Kimberlite
Ashton discovered the Perseus kimberlite on the Ric property in September 2000. Perseus is a shallow-dipping
diamondiferous kimberlite dyke approximately 10 m wide with an east-northeast strike. Based on the distribution of kimberlite
float and geophysical data, the dyke is interpreted to have a strike length of about 1.4 km. As reported on September 11,
2001, two additional holes drilled along the Perseus structure confirmed that Perseus has a consistent width of 10 m and is at
least 470 m in length. A 107.4 kg sample from these two holes was processed for diamonds by caustic dissolution at Ashton's
North Vancouver laboratory. These results, together with the results reported in December 2000, are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Perseus Microdiamond Summary
Date Reported Sample Weight (kg) Diamonds
Micro Macro
(0.1-0.5 mm) (a)0.5 mm (one
dimension)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
December 14, 2000 211 55 0
January 18, 2002 107 32 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 318 87 0
(a)greater than or equal to
Additional float samples have been collected from a site located 1.4 km east-northeast of the original Perseus discovery drill
hole. This material will be processed for microdiamonds in order to assess potential diamond variation along the Perseus
structure. Results from these analyses are expected in the second quarter.
The Corporation holds its interest in the Kim and Ric properties under the Slave Regional Joint Venture with Pure Gold
Minerals Inc. (PUG:TSE). The joint venture's four properties in the north Slave craton region of Nunavut (Kim, Vic, Ric and
Eokuk) constitute approximately 175,000 hectares. Ashton's interest in the joint venture is approximately 90 percent.
Brooke Clements, Professional Geologist and Ashton's Vice President, Exploration, is responsible for the design and conduct
of the exploration programs, and the verification and quality assurance of analytical results.
Contact:
Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.
Robert T. Boyd
604/983-7750
or
Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.
Ariel Bowers
604/983-7750
Email: investor@ashton.ca
Website: www.ashton.ca |
