Here it is folks - God Bless Us!
News Release
January 6, 1998
* Hypabyssal kimberlite from drillcore yields 43 macros (22%) out of 197 total diamonds
* The standardized total diamond count from the hypabyssal kimberlite in the drillhole is higher than similar kimberlite from the tailings dump taken from an area sampled by De Beers and estimated by them to contain 60 to 80 cpht
* Hypabyssal kimberlite from drillcore has 148 "white transparent" diamonds (75%) out of a total of 197
* Hypabyssal kimberlite has much higher standardized diamond counts than TKB (tuffisitic kimberlite breccia) or shale breccia
* Pipe has near vertical sides - remains the same size to depth
* Bottom of hole Crown-1 is at 905 meters and still in hypabyssal kimberlite, 560 meters below deepest level mined
* Potential tonnage of Main Pipe hypabyssal kimberlite is large and open to depth
* Drilling program has resumed
Rupert Resources Ltd. is pleased to report initial diamond counts from drillhole Crown-1 at the Crown Diamond Mine Project in South Africa. These highly encouraging partial results, to a depth of 771.0 meters downhole, are detailed below. The hypabyssal kimberlite from 771.0 meters to 905.0 meters in drillhole Crown-1 has been sampled and sent for analysis, results are expected in late January.
Results are also reported for samples of uncrushed kimberlite, thought to be development rock from the mine, recovered from surface tailings piles.
To date (Partial) results of Drillhole Crown-1
Number of DiamondsSample NumberKimberlite TypeFromToMetersWeight (kg)ActualStandardized
per 100 kgTotal
Diamonds# Macro*
DiamondsTotal
Diamonds# Macro*
Diamonds2701Shale-rich
breccia 636.0641.05.017.855028.00.02703Hypabyssal647.0661.514.525.14268103.431.82707Hypabyssal713.5721.78.215.763119.06.32708 Hypabyssal721.7731.09.718.98343179.115.82709 Hypabyssal731.0741.010.019.56226112.530.72710Hypabyssal741.0751.010.021.066714318.166.52711 Hypabyssal751.0761.010.019.82305151.425.22712 Hypabyssal761.0771.010.017.7715684.433.8Total 2707-2712Hypabyssal713.5771.057.5112.9517135151.431.0Total 2703 & 2707 to 2712Hypabyssal 72.0138.0919743142.731.1
Results of rock samples taken from tailings piles
Sample NumberDescriptionNumber of DiamondsWeight (kg)ActualStandardized per 100 kgTotal DiamondsMacro* DiamondsTotal DiamondsMacro* Diamonds2705 Diatreme facies TKB23.894016.70.02704Hypabyssal facies kimberlite25.3519875.031.62706Hypabyssal facies kimberlite24.173311136.545.52704 & 2706 Subtotal Hypabyssal49.52
5219105.038.4
* Macros are those diamonds for which one dimension exceeds 0.5 mm.
Drillhole Crown-1 was drilled to a total depth of 905.0 meters at an azimuth of 345 degrees and an angle of 60 degrees from vertical. The hole intersected a total of 221.0 meters of hypabyssal kimberlite in two sections, the first from 647.0 to 667.0 meters and the second from 713.5 to 905.0 meters separated by 46.5 meters of shale-rich kimberlite breccia. The interval from 647.0 to 905.0 metres represents a horizontal width of 129.0 meters and a vertical extent of 223.4 meters. The hole was still in hypabyssal kimberlite at 905.0 meters.
Samples, estimated to be 20 to 25 kilograms each, of either split drillcore or uncrushed pieces of kimberlite taken from the tailings piles were placed in buckets at the drillsite, sealed, taken to Johannesburg, shipped air freight to Toronto and forwarded to Lakefield Research Limited in Lakefield, Ontario. Lakefield Research carried out their standard method of diamond recovery by caustic dissolution followed by microscopic examination and measuring of the recovered diamonds. Extensive internal quality control procedures are followed by Lakefield.
Petrographic examinations and mineral chemistry studies will be performed on portions of the retained drillcore. The balance of the drillcore will be retained on site for future reference and check analyses as necessary.
Drilling of holes Crown-2 and Crown-3 resumed on January 5, 1998 after a pause for the holiday season.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"D. Neil Briggs"
D. Neil Briggs
President and Director
What's considered good is that in a 100 kg sample you get 80 diamonds, 20 of which are macro, that is good. RUP has 141 diamonds in a 100 kg sample and we have 31 macros. |
