Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.: Additional Diamond Results
From Renard Cluster
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Robert T. Boyd, President and CEO of
Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. ("Ashton"), is pleased to report
additional diamond results from material collected at the time of
discovery of Renard 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The five kimberlitic
intrusions are located on the 153,000 hectare Foxtrot property in
north-central Quebec which is held by Ashton and its joint venture
partner, SOQUEM INC. ("SOQUEM"). The discoveries were announced on
September 21, 2001 (Renard 1), March 28, 2002 (Renard 3) and April
9, 2002 (Renard 4, 5 and 6).
DMS Results - Renard 5, 6 and 1
Samples from Renard 5 (364 kg), Renard 6 (457 kg) and Renard 1
(296 kg) were processed through the dense media separation plant
at Ashton's North Vancouver laboratory to recover diamonds greater
than 0.85 mm in two dimensions.
The Renard 5 sample returned four diamonds having an aggregate
weight of 0.95 carat. The largest diamond is a grey composite
crystal weighing 0.92 carat. The Renard 6 sample returned a single
translucent colourless diamond crystal weighing 0.26 carat. No
diamonds were recovered from the Renard 1 sample.
The potential diamond content of the three bodies should not be
inferred from the results of small samples such as these.
Caustic Dissolution Results - Renard 3, 4, 5, and 6
Material from Renard 3, 4, 5 and 6 was treated by caustic
dissolution at Ashton's North Vancouver laboratory to recover
diamonds greater than or equal to 0.1 mm in two dimensions.
The current results together with the diamond results previously
reported for these bodies are summarized in the following table.
/T/
Diamond Results - Renard 3, 4, 5 and 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kimberlitic Date Sample Numbers of Diamonds
Body Reported Weight Total greater greater greater
(kg) Diamonds than or than or than or
greater equal to equal to equal to
than or 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 1.0 mm
equal to (in one (in two (in two
0.1 mm dimension) dimensions) dimensions)
(in two
dimensions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Renard 3 Oct. 9,
2002 50.5 43 16 5 0
Jul. 2,
2002 156.1 38 17 12 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 206.6 81 33 17 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Renard 4 Oct. 9,
2002 50.6 19 11 8 1
(Note 1) (Note 2)
Jun. 13,
2002 102.1 35 14 11 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 152.7 54 25 19 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Renard 5 Oct. 9,
2002 43.6 18 10 8 1
(Note 3)
Jun. 13,
2002 100.3 35 22 13 1
(Note 4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 143.9 53 32 21 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Renard 6 Oct. 9,
2002 51.2 6 2 1 0
Jun. 13,
2002 100.9 31 6 2 1
(Note 4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 152.1 37 8 3 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. In addition to the diamonds shown in the table, 80 diamond
fragments were recovered. These fragments are attributed to
breakage, during sample processing, of one or more stones.
2. This diamond measures 2.9 mm x 1.5 mm x 0.6 mm.
3. This diamond measures 1.9 mm x 1.3 mm x 0.6 mm.
4. These data incorporate minor corrections from the values reported
on June 13, 2002.
/T/
The joint venture is encouraged by the diamond results derived to
date from these bodies. As announced on October 4, 2002,
additional diamond results are expected later in the fourth
quarter. The joint venture will utilize these results and the
extensive geological data generated on the Foxtrot property in
planning further evaluation of the Renard cluster and surrounding
area in 2003.
SOQUEM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGF Minerals Inc., a
subsidiary of Societe Generale de Financement du Quebec ("SGF").
The mission of the SGF is to carry out economic development
projects in cooperation with partners and in accordance with
accepted requirements of profitability.
Ashton is the operator of the joint venture's exploration programs
and Brooke Clements, Professional Geologist and Ashton's Vice
President, Exploration, is responsible for their design and
conduct and the verification and quality assurance of analytical
results. |
