THE DIAMOND PAGE — Teck seeks alluvial source in Brazil

Teck (TEK-T) has discovered 56 kimberlites at the Canabrava diamond project in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.

The major, which can earn an initial 60% interest in the project from Canabrava Diamond (CNB-V), is trying to locate the bedrock source of alluvial diamonds recovered from numerous drainages in the project area.

Small samples of drill cuttings are being processed at Canabrava’s lab facilities in Patos de Minas and analyzed for indicator mineral chemistry. So far, no macrodiamonds have been reported.

Also, results are awaited from two larger kimberlite samples sent to Lakefield Research for caustic fusion processing.

The Canabrava project comprises 25 claim blocks totalling 850,000 ha. It is 450 km southeast of the capital city of Brasilia. The properties are accessible by paved and gravel roads.

Teck will continue to drill-test more than 500 prime magnetic targets in the next 12 months. In preparation for drilling, ground magnetic surveys are being conducted over each target. Fifty-seven targets are now ready to be drilled.

Follow-up stream sediment sampling is being carried out in several areas. At the Quintinos and Formosa properties, the recovery of G-10 garnets and chrome spinels indicate the potential for diamondiferous kimberlites, and on the Funchal property, the source of a diamond recovered in stream sediments is interpreted to be nearby.

The area covered by the Canabrava project is complex. Various sequences of ultramafic intrusions are separated by periods of sedimentation. Age-dating suggests there are two different ages of kimberlite intrusives; both are possibly diamond-bearing, but the older intrusives are thought to be of the main diamond-bearing phase.

Separate from its joint venture with Teck, Canabrava Diamond holds 119,000 ha of concessions in the Ipora district, 450 km west of Brasilia. A first phase of stream sediment-sampling conducted over 40% of the land package recovered numerous kimberlite indicator minerals. The company followed-up with a second phase of sampling.

Canabrava has also applied for exploration concessions in the Santa Fe and Porto Grande areas. Both areas are noted for their historical production of alluvial diamonds.