Kennecott Canada puts Diavik project on the fast track

Kennecott Canada is proceeding with a 3,000-tonne bulk-sampling program at its Diavik diamond project in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories.

Kennecott, as operator, holds a 60% interest in the joint venture, with Aber Resources (TSE) holding the remaining 40%.

A 1,000-metre-long decline has been drilled to a depth of 155 metres at the A-154 South kimberlite pipe, and, last year, drilling recovered 255.6 carats from 56.5 tonnes of kimberlite for a grade of 4.5 carats per tonne. The recovered diamonds are valued at US$58.17 per carat, for a value of US$262 per tonne.

The A-154 South is one of four highly prospective diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes, the others being A-418, A-154 North and A-21. All were discovered in the western claim area of the Diavik project.

Six targets at the offshore A-418 pipe, 700 metres southwest of A-154 South, returned 1,278 macros, of which 296 measured greater than 1 mm, and 2,246 micros from 2,443.1 kg. A preliminary grade for A-418 is 3.75 carats per tonne.

Caustic fusion results from A-418 are comparable with the initial results of A-154 South, which yielded 1,097 macros and 2,029 micros from 2,106.9 kg.

Large-diameter core drilling is also under way at the A-154 North pipe, 300 metres northeast of A-154 South. The pipe is estimated to contain a preliminary resource of 5.3 million tonnes grading 2.2 carats to a depth of 250 metres below lake level.

Three exploratory holes returned 424 macros and 1,023 micros through analysis of 1,066.9 kg. Of the macros, 98 are greater than 1 mm. Two follow-up holes yielded 28.6 carats from 12.9 tonnes for a grade of 2.2 carats.

Large-diameter drilling of five holes will begin shortly on the A-21 pipe, which lies 4.4 km southwest of A-154 South. Previous drilling at eight holes recovered 300 macros and 789 micros from 1,385 kg, with 84 stones measuring more than 1 mm.

Kennecott and Aber plan to carry out condemnation drilling in the immediate areas of the four pipes and drill an additional 20 exploration targets.