To: jack hampton who wrote (17031 ) 3/28/1999 1:27:00 AM From: WillP Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 26850
Jack: #1. The original MRDI study was dubbed a "scoping study". The work undertaken this spring, in my mind at least is "pre-feasibility". For a full feasibility evaluation, I suspect at least 5 to 10 million tonnes will be "proven" on a 50 to 100 metre grid. Probably the former for a bankable feasibility. #2. There was a mini bulk sample of 200 tonnes, and this is being followed up by a formal bulk sample of 6000 tonnes plus, which should yield close to 10,000 carats, which is considered by some to be a statistically valid sample for valuation purposes. (I believe the sample will fall short by 1 to 2 thousand carats, at 6000 tonnes but could be met at 7000 tonnes. This sample should be representative of the NW peninsula at least, and this was the main thrust of the original MRDI scoping study. "Walt" has likened the deposit to a rich gold mine. He's not going to get an argument from this "diamond guy". That's a very good analogy. According to the mini bulk...you get a 1 carat diamond roughly every 8 tonnes, and a valuable 1 carat gem worth about $750 about every 30 to 40 tonnes. You might run across a 5 carat gem every 50 tonnes, with a $7,500 5 carat gem every 150 tonnes. There could be portions where you "get lucky" on gem content, and portions where you do not. The actual stone distribution on the other hand will be more consistent, I believe...but still somewhat variable. Hence the need for fairly large bulk samples. The grade is, however, rather predictable from the macro diamond content revealed by caustic fusion...once one has decent data from a bulk sample or three. As to whether the samples are large enough from the 200 metre drill program this spring...probably not. That depends on the consistency of the results, however. There should be in excess of 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes available from the 50 odd holes drilled in a 1200 metre square grid. This is in addition to the 1.2 tonnes available from last fall's drill program. #3. The real story about the JV dispute is still relatively unknown. I feel it comes down to a dispute among a few individuals, rather than the entire boards and key employees of both. It should resolve itself over the next few months. #4. I'm not sure. The data to date lacks some key information...such as depth of the dyke on the north shore, etc. The open pittable tonnage on the NW dyke has been estimated at about 700,000 tonnes and given its relatively shallow nature, I'm guessing it's well within your specified ratio. Where's my calculator when I need it? This is basically an underground situation, for the most part. #5. Canaccord is screaming "Speculative Buy" to retail and institutional buyers alike. It's one of their featured companies. Yorkton is bullish as well, at last reading. I have not stumbled upon any CIBC coverage as yet. #6. Yes. The TSE listing was allegedly close in December. I was told that a March date was likely. It's possible that things are on hold at the TSE with the recent releases concerning the reorganization of Canadian markets. I understand that Winspear applied three months after Mountain Province Mining did...and they have been TSE listed for about a month. #7. No. I have a database probably more extensive than anywhere outside the JV partner offices, gleaned by reading everything and using mathematical deduction...but it's still woefully inadequate. As for your fears of pinching and swelling...such a feature is present to a minor degree. The dyke seems to undulate between about 1.4 and 4.0 metres. There is an area of definite thinning (in my mind) at the southernmost extent of drilling, and a potential area of thickening toward the northeastern edge of drilling. For the most part, I would say with some confidence that most of the tonnage lies is contained in regions between 1.9 and 3.1 metres true thickness. As far as more detailed information being available...the MRDI report that may be released this year could contain some of that data. This is not an industry that likes to make data available, however. #8. Umm...err...you can apparently break it in your hand fairly easily. It's not as competent as you would prefer, I fear. #9. No offense taken. Proper tools for the job, I say. Frankly, I would be reassured about the long term intentions of management if they did bring mining expertise on board. Oh...and I have not met a miner yet who thought much of mining engineers or geologists. :-) #10. They need financing. No doubt about that. Debt financing would be most preferable, but that impacts directly on #1...the level of feasibility required would be much greater. There will be lots of activity on this front over the next year, for sure. How do you rate the costs of mining and for drift and fill versus room and pillar? Regards, WillP