Monopros cuts new AK-CJ kimberlite

Drilling at the AK-CJ diamond property in Canada’s Northwest Territories has cut a new kimberlite body while expanding the limits of the Hearne pipe, reports Mountain Province Mining (MPV-T) and Camphor Ventures (CFV-V).

Monopros, a wholly owned subsidiary of De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBRSY-Q), is managing the project to earn up to a 60% interest. This would leave Mountain Province with a 36% stake and Camphor with a 4% interest, if acquired in full.

Two holes intersected the new kimberlite body for 40 metres in the north-south direction and 23 metres in the east-west direction. Though actual dimensions remain unclear, a 3.3-metre-wide kimberlite dyke was discovered 200 metres south of the Kelvin body in the same lake.

Dubbed Kelvin, the kimberlite body lies under a lake resting some 9 km northeast of Kennady Lake. Underneath that lake lies the Hearne kimberlite pipe, which had its southern lobe extended 30 metres horizontally in the recent program.

Meanwhile, 20 km to the northwest, one hole cut five kimberlite stringers up to 0.7 metre in thickness, as well as a 1.7-metre-wide section that may represent a sill. The hole was testing a land-based target on the northern shore of MZ Lake, about 300 metres northwest of a previously discovered kimberlite dyke.

Recent efforts on the property are part of an aggressive exploration program designed to increase the property’s resource and hence, economic viability. Last winter, a sampling program of drill cuttings suggested disheartening grade and economic evaluations for the Hearne, 5034, Tuzo and Tesla pipes.

Monopros is planning a till-sampling program, possibly followed by more drilling.