Tomato,
Author: The RESOURCE INDICATOR --
Date:1999-02-20 08:45:13
Subject: I am all mixed up - No garden without its
weeds
WillP,
DECLARATION: I own some stock and have
recommended it in the newsletter as much lower
prices.
I have had the same thoughts in the past. I have asked
Winspear in the past regarding overall gem percentage
of large stones versus gem percentage of smaller
stones. They have decided, with some good reason, not
to discuss this yet.
If past data can be used, in a very crude manner, to
take a guess, I would say 20-30% of the entire
population of stones may be of gem quality (white and
transparent). I am sure you will agree that this range
can be assigned a high probability of coming true. Also,
the population of stones may be a mixture of various
samplings from within the source(s) as duscussed in
the Jan. 27/99 issue:
"....
THE SIZE OF THE STACK IS AS IMPORTANT
AS THE QUALITY OF THE CARDS
The results are complex and can lead to as many
questions as answers. One intelligent inquiry would be
if there is any evidence that the micro and macro
diamonds were sourced from a different population or
genesis of diamonds. If this is the case, can the size
distribution curve be used to predict the existence of
larger diamonds and eventually grades?
In any eruption, you will get a variety of geneses, as
you do in the indicator minerals. Data from the caustic
fusion results is still being interpreted. Winspear has not
yet had a chance to look at the physical characteristics
of the micro-diamonds in order to compare it to the
physical characteristics of the macro-diamonds
recovered from the 200 tonne sample. The data to date
indicates that the micro-diamonds co-exist with the
macros in a uniform magmatic mix. The family of
diamonds, whether sampled from a single or multiple
source population of diamonds, will be uniform
throughout the dyke. If this is the case for the
remainder of the dyke, than the size distribution curve,
as it is developed, will be an effective tool to predict the
grade of the dyke. The micro-macro model is
necessary because sampling the dyke with
conventional drilling will not provide enough
macro-diamonds for resource estimation. An
observation of the kimberlite intersection to date, by the
Winspear consultants, does not indicate any phasing
within the dyke.
The development of the size distribution curve is a
complex exercise and can be affected by several
criteria. These include unrepresentative sampling,
insufficient sampling, poor recovery of stones and
incorrect size distribution due to breakage of diamonds
during processing. The accuracy of any micro-macro
model will probably continue to be debated. Dr.
Thurston is still going through results and WSP has
simply released the best information to date. ...."
It is also important to note that the larger stones of poor
quality were broken.
Sincerely,
Sudhir Khanna, P.Eng.
Editor, The RESOURCE INDICATOR
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