TIGER INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES LTD.
PRESS RELEASE
Exploration Update - May 3, 1998
Springfield Basin Diamond Project, South Australia
(AUSTRALIA) - Tiger International Resources Inc. (TGR.V) has commenced
an extensive diamond exploration and development work program at its 5,400
square kilometer Springfield Basin project in South Australia.
Under the direction of the eminent Dr. Kevin Wills, Tiger International
Resources has developed a three-faceted work program. The plan will
utilize three directions of skill and technology to define the diamond
areas and develop them up to the pre-feasibility stage.
Dr. Wills was the geologist responsible for the actual discovery of the
famous Argyle diamond mine in Australia. Using the same techniques,
which are being deployed at Springfield, Dr. Wills discovered what is
today the largest diamond mine in the world at Argyle, producing one
third of the world's diamond supply.
THE WORK PROGRAM:
The three-faceted work program includes a final review and compilation
of the geophysical data, an intensive drilling program, and a trenching
and bulk-tonnage sampling/mining program.
A. GEOPHYSICAL ANALYSIS
Raw geophysical data, covering the entire property, has been procured
from five separate sources. The processing of this data is still
underway. Tiger management has reviewed the partially processed data and
already counted a high incidence of magnetic returns --more than 350--
stretched across the entire width of the property in a broad east-west
belt. The geophysicist and geotechnical experts now processing this data
indicate a percentage of these responses will be real, warranting detailed
examination. Once the geophysical analysis has been completed, magnetic
anomalies will be recommended for exploration, i.e. possible drilling
for sampling purposes or trenching for inclusion in the bulk-tonnage
sampling program.
B. DRILLING PROGRAM
The drilling program in the drainage channels will commence in mid May,
and will continue for three months or longer, depending on results and
the number of potential targets suggested by the geophysical data.
(Please see BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION following this section, for
additional information about drilling ancient drainage channels.)
The Company has retained Dr. Richard Russell, an expert in mapping aged
drainage channels, who is presently on the property determining the
location and direction of the aged drainage channels. Dr. Russell's
findings will be studied by Dr. Wills, who will direct a drill program
in the drainage channels for the purpose of obtaining grades of diamonds
and diamond indicator minerals. When the highest grades of indicators
are identified, intensive cluster drilling will occur with the intention
of isolating the kimberlite and the host source of the diamonds and
diamond indicator minerals.
Dr. Wills previously identified that at least five kimberlites
are present on the Springfield property. However, recently analyzed
geophysical data and the 150% expansion of Tiger's property suggest the
possibility of discovering numerous potential kimberlitic targets.
C. TRENCHING AND BULK-TONNAGE SAMPING PROGRAM
Tiger has procured a heavy media plant that can process between eight to
ten tons of material per hour, with a daily target of 80 tons/day. The
heavy media plant is a major mining plant, not a sampling plant. The
Company has decided to process as much potential ore as possible in
order to generate the highest quality results from the work program.
There is adequate water supply and the heavy media plant will be located
adjacent to this water supply. Power will be generated from field
generators, although grid power is available in the area and can be
utilized if commercial mining is proven feasible. Skilled labor is
available in the area.
Contracts have been let to earthmoving firms that will cut elongated
trenches to below the overburden in a fan configuration, and for a
distance of up to two kilometers. The anticipated result is that Dr.
Wills will be able to verify the grades of diamonds and diamond
indicator minerals, and that the edge of the Springfield kimberlite
would be encountered, permitting the mapping of the boundary of the
kimberlite. When the boundary has been identified, a further work
program will be recommended that is expected to include diamond drilling
to depth in the center of the kimberlite.
SUMMARY
The heavy media plant is scheduled to arrive on site in mid-May and will
be immediately pressed into service. By that time, Dr. Russell will have
completed his mapping of the drainage channels and will have provided
his recommendations to Dr. Wills and Tiger management, which will allow
the drilling program to commence simultaneously. The geophysical
analysis and interpolation will have been completed by May 12, with maps
and recommendations provided to Dr. Wills.
Over a three-month period, large tonnages will have been processed at
the Argyle laboratory, in Perth, for x-ray analysis and screening. The
anticipated result will be an exhaustive analysis of the diamond potential
of the Springfield Basin, as well as nearby areas identified through the
geophysical analysis and the drilling program. It is planned that this work
program will provide adequate information to permit management and
consultants to bring the property to pre-feasibility by the time all
results are analyzed and completed.
Tiger International Resources Inc. is a resource company listed on the
Vancouver Stock Exchange under the symbol TGR.V. Tiger presently has
capital in excess of $900,000 and 4,159,823 common shares on issue, and
anticipates that it has adequate capital on hand to fund this work
program without issuance of additional shares. Tiger has established a
subsidiary corporation in Australia to facilitate the presence of the
company. Tiger maintains a website at www.tigerresources.com where
updates will be posted regularly.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Tiger International has approx. 5,400 square kilometers (approx.
2,304,000 acres) of property in South Australia, which has been judged
to be highly prospective for diamonds. The property is located at
Springfield, in the Hawker area, a four hour drive north east from
Adelaide, a major city of one million population. A major paved highway
intersects the property, providing excellent access. Australia is
politically stable, has excellent mining laws and tenure of title, and
shares with the United States and Canada the highest level of
experienced mining experts available. Technology in Australia,
especially in mining and mining-related technology, is at the forefront
in the world today.
In 1983 diamonds were discovered in the Springfield Basin during prior
exploration. This discovery proved that the region is diamondiferous. It
is an important feature in that the bulk of diamond hosts named
kimberlites do not contain diamonds - thus the value in this case is
that the Springfield Basin, and the region, has been demonstrated to be
diamondiferous, that is, a region of diamond bearing kimberlites. The
region is an undulating plain of low rainfall with about six feet of
overburden. The geological opinion is that the overburden should be
removed so that effective mining and processing can be undertaken.
In the Springfield Basin, heavy concentrations of diamond indicator
minerals and diamonds have been discovered. While the region is covered
by about two meters of overburden, which means also that the kimberlites
are covered by the same depth of overburden, at Springfield the
indicator minerals have risen to the surface where they can be seen in
abundance by the naked eye.
The diamonds occur in strata below the overburden, so in order to locate
quantities of diamonds and diamond bearing ore, the overburden must be
removed. In some respects, we compare the Springfield Basin to the
Argyle area. Thus, similar exploration techniques are to be employed.
At Argyle during the exploration program, diamonds had been found in the
region (as at Springfield). However, pinpointing the source proved
difficult. Dr. Kevin Wills decided to examine the ancient drainage
channels (creek beds and streams) which existed some 300 million years
ago, and sample them at depth. This technique led to the discovery of
diamond indicator minerals that had washed from the diamond source some
miles away.
The team under Dr. Wills' direction sampled the indicators in an
upstream direction, measuring the grades along the way, observing
increasing concentrations and mapping the results until they registered
a drop in grades. The drop indicated that they had passed the sweetest
location. They returned to the sweetest point, conducted intensive
exploration and testing. The result was the discovery of the Argyle
diamond mine.
On behalf of the board,
Patric Barry
President
Tiger International
PHONE:#1-714-362-1600
EMAIL: info@tigerresources.com
WEB: tigerresources.com |
