Here is the news release :
SouthernEra Resources Ltd
SUF TSE
March 13, 1997
5,000 Carats Recovered at Klipspringer Project
TORONTO, March 13 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Resources Limited (SUF-TSE) is
pleased to announce that it has reached its target of recovering 5,000
carats from the bulk sampling program at its Klipspringer project in South
Africa. The largest stone recovered during this phase of the program was
17.1 carats. Based on the first 4200 carats recovered, the average stone
size is 0.32 carats, and approximately 28% of the total is comprised of
stones larger than 1 carat.
The diamonds have been recovered from treatment of approximately 6,200
tonnes consisting of a mixture of weathered kimberlite and overburden. An
adit, currently at 30 m, has recently been collared in solid kimberlite,
and will be extended a further 300 m along strike to allow better
determination of the grade of primary kimberlite. Raising, sub-level
development, and excavation of a 2,000-3,000 tonne test stope are planned.
The diamond pan plant has been upgraded by the addition of a two-stage
crushing circuit to handle the primary ore currently being mined.
The 5000 carat parcel of diamonds will be submitted to a number if
diamantaires for determination of their value on a per carat basis. This
process is expected to be complete by late April.
Drilling of Sugarbird (North) Fissure
Continuing exploration has resulted in extending the Sugarbird Fissure over
a strike length of at least 3 km. Diamond drilling to delineate the fissure
is on-going, and results to date indicate an average width of 1.9 meters
based on 7 holes, drilled to a maximum depth of 180 m. A program of
mini-bulk sampling using a 10'' percussion drill, has been completed, with
the collection of approximately 80 tonnes of material from several sites.
These samples will be treated in the recently-commissioned 6' pan plant,
and results will be reported when available. Drilling of the blow located
on the Sugarbird Fissure (Press Release dated November 19, 1996) indicates
that body extends to a depth of at least 100 m. Approximately 107 (dry)
tonnes have been treated from surface samples, which yielded 43.4 carats,
including two stones larger than 3 carats, and four stones between 1 and 3
carats. An additional 50 tonnes has been obtained from 10'' percussion
holes, which will be treated as plant capacity permits. Permits for a
second adit on the Sugarbird Fissure have been applied for, and should be
in place within the next two months.
Outside Exploration
At least four new kimberlites have been discovered in 1997, and
macrodiamonds have been recovered from small samples from three of the
bodies. Limited drilling on one body indicates that kimberlite extends over
at least 150 m across strike. Several holes have been stopped in kimberlite
at depths between 70 and 100 m. Additional drilling on this, as well as
other recently-discovered kimberlites, is continuing. Numerous additional
indicator mineral anomalies are present on the Corporation's landholdings
in the Klipspringer area, and detailed sampling and geophysical surveys
will be followed by drilling where results warrant.
SouthernEra is very encouraged by the progress of the programs on the two
known fissures, and by the recent success of its exploration for additional
kimberlites. The Corporation intends to continue to pursue its aggressive
pre-development program on the Leopard and Sugarbird Fissures as well as
its exploration and evaluation of new kimberlite bodies. |
