News Release
Dentonia reviews progress at DO-27 kimberlite pipe
2005-06-13 22:04 ET - News Release
Mr. Adolf Petancic reports
2005 BULK SAMPLE OF DO-27 GRADES AN AVERAGE OF 0.98 CARATS/TONNE CORE DRILLING EXTENDS DEPTH OF KIMBERLITE TO OVER 465 METERS RESOURCE DELINEATION CORE DRILLING PROGRAM TO BEGIN IN JULY
Dentonia Resources Ltd., a one-third equity shareholder in DHK Diamonds, has been advised by Peregrine Diamonds, the operator, as follows:
"Eric Friedland, president; Alan Carter, chief operating officer; and Jennifer Pell, vice-president, exploration -- diamonds, of Peregrine Diamonds Ltd., are very pleased to announce the diamond results of the 2005 minibulk sample of the DO-27 kimberlite pipe, which is located 23 kilometres southeast of the Diavik diamond mine, Northwest Territories, Canada, and only 11 kilometres, via spur road, off of the main Tibbitt to Contwoyto ice road. The DO-27 pipe, which is made up of a main vent and a subsidiary northeastern vent, comprises the southern lobe of what has been previously referred to as the Tli Kwi Cho kimberlite complex. The central portion of the DO27 main vent was tested during the 2005 program and returned an average grade of 0.98 carat per tonne. The main vent of DO-27 alone has a surface expression of over 400 metres by 200 metres (over six hectares) and combined with the northeastern subsidiary vent, has a surface area of around nine hectares.
As outlined in a news in Stockwatch dated April 19, 2005, Peregrine completed six large-diameter (13-3/4-inch) RC drill holes in the DO-27 main vent during early 2005. This amounted to 151.27 dry tonnes of kimberlite which was subsequently processed at the Ekati diamond mine. The tonnages were calculated using measured and estimated hole dimensions and measured specific gravities. Three NQ core drill holes were also completed to give geological control on the RC drilling and to provide additional information about the pipe at depth.
Two different primary pyroclastic kimberlite phases were intersected in the portion of the pipe tested by the RC drilling. Holes RC 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 sampled a layered sequence of primary pyroclastic tuffs in the central portion of the pipe that were rich in chrome diopside and pyrope and contained lesser amounts of fresh olivine. RC 3, the southernmost hole of the program, intersected a completely different volcaniclastic kimberlite facies with high concentrations of fresh olivine. The individual grades and specific diamond information for the six RC holes are summarized below:
DO-27 - PYROPE, CHROME
DIOPSIDE-RICH FACIES
Drill Total Sample Total Carats
hole depth weight carat per
(metres) (dry weight tonne
tonnes)
RC 1 209 45.74 47.32 1.03
RC 2 124 28.96 27.66 0.96
RC 4 93.5 12.02 11.99 1.00
RC 5 83 12.20 11.66 0.96
RC 6 77 9.54 7.4 0.78
----- ------ ------ ----
Total/
average - 108.47 106.03 0.98
DO-27 - PYROPE, CHROME
DIOPSIDE-RICH FACIES
Drill Number of Largest
hole stones stones
> half (carats)
carat
RC 1 4 2.93, 1.62
RC 2 5 1.85, 0.96, 0.94
RC 4 1 2.66
RC 5 3 0.76
RC 6 1 0.5
--
Total/
average 14
DO-27 - FRESH OLIVINE-RICH FACIES
Drill Total Depth (Metres)
hole
Drill Total Sample Total Carats
hole depth weight carat per
(metres) (dry weight tonne
tonnes)
RC 3 190.5 42.80 29.93 0.70
DO-27 - FRESH OLIVINE-RICH FACIES
Drill Number of Largest
hole stones stones
> half (carats)
carat
RC 3 7 0.98
A total of 1,806 diamonds were recovered using a one-millimetre screen. A total of 21 stones larger than one-half carat were recovered with the largest stones coming from the central volcanic kimberlite facies. The four largest stones were a 2.93-carat, light-brown, flattened octahedron, a 2.66-carat, off-white, tetrahexahedron, a 1.85-carat, clean, white octahedron, and a 1.62-carat clean, white, complex tetrahexahedron.
The diamonds will now be sent to a number of internationally recognized diamond valuators for complete valuations.
The DO-27 kimberlite was discovered in 1993 by Kennecott Canada Exploration (KCEI) and partners, and returned promising microdiamond results through core drilling, which encouraged KCEI to forgo a minibulk-sample stage via large-diameter surface drilling, and instead move directly to an underground bulk-sampling program in 1994. Technical problems encountered underground resulted in the sample being collected in the northeastern subsidiary vent, and not from the central portion of the main vent as originally intended. Grades of 0.36 carat per tonne were obtained from the subsidiary vent and the project was subsequently abandoned. The main vent of DO-27 was never tested during the 1994 program. Peregrine's results contrast with KCEI's previous results from the peripheral kimberlite facies and confirm that the DO-27 kimberlite contains a large and high-grade central portion to the pipe.
Commenting on the results, Howard Coopersmith, an international diamond expert with over 30 years experience and a consultant to Peregrine diamonds, said: "Peregrine's samples confirm that the grade and diamonds are significantly different and better than the previous KCEI sample. This kimberlite deposit contains ore grades and commercial gem diamonds in a crater complex of significant size and depth."
Peregrine also completed a program of three NQ diamond drill holes at DO-27 designed to test the depth of the kimberlite and to obtain geological information on lithological variations detected in the RC drilling. A total of 750 metres was drilled during April and May with the deepest hole drilled to 465 metres of depth and ending in kimberlite and a second hole drilled to 230 metres, which also ended in kimberlite. This program has significantly extended the known depth of the DO-27 kimberlite, which was previously drilled to a maximum depth of 215 metres.
The NQ core will be sent for caustic fusion microdiamond analysis, which will provide further information regarding the deeper levels in the pipe.
Peregrine intends to pursue an extended program of diamond drilling at both DO-27 and the nearby DO-18 pipe (the northern lobe of the Tli Kwi Cho complex) starting July, 2005. DO-18, located 700 metres to the north of DO-27, occurs on land under a thin veneer of till cover. Microdiamond grades as high as 1.41 carats per tonne over 242 metres were reported at DO-18 from several diamond drill holes completed by KCEI in 1993.
The joint venture partners have agreed that in exchange for sole financing the next $500,000 of core drilling at DO-27, Peregrine will have completed its obligations in regards to the bulk sampling program as outlined in their amending agreement dated Sept. 20, 2004. Peregrine's interest in the project has therefore now increased to 54.475 per cent plus operatorship. The other partners' project interests are now as follows:
Archon Minerals Ltd., 13.275 per cent;
Aber Diamond, 7.35 per cent;
DHK Diamonds, 20 per cent; and
SouthernEra Diamonds, 4.9 per cent.
Dr. Jennifer Pell, PGeo, is the qualified person who oversaw the entire program at DO-27. Howard Coopersmith of Coopersmith & Associates, Colorado, provided audits on the sample protocols and procedures. AMEC Americas Ltd. in Vancouver audited the drilling and sampling protocols as well as provided quality-assurance/quality-control audits on the actual drilling, sampling and evaluating procedures."