Otish rocks diamondiferous (December 17, 2001)

Vancouver — Diamond counts have determined the favourable nature of two kimberlitic bodies in the Otish Mountains area of Quebec.

Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) discovered the bodies while drill testing four geophysical anomalies earlier this year. Dubbed Renard 1, the first body returned 54 microdiamonds (greater than 0.1 mm but less than 0.5 mm in one dimension) and 5 macrodiamonds (greater than 0.5 mm in one dimension) from a 205.8 kg sample.

Located 1-km south of the first geophysical target, a second magnetic anomaly yielded a similar ultramafic igneous rock some 18 metres under overburden to a down-hole depth of 101 metres. Known as Renard 2, this body yielded 116 microdiamonds and 29 macrodiamonds from a 163.1 kg sample. The largest stone measured 1.63-by-1.58-by-0.53 mm. The sample

The Renard 1 sample is described as a hypabyssal facies rock, while Renard 2 contains both hypabyssal and diatreme facies rocks. Both samples show transitional characteristics between kimberlites and melonites. Melonites are derived from similar depths as kimberlites but differ slightly in the chemical composition of the groundmass minerals.

Two other anomalies tested during the first round program failed to return any ultramafic material.

Based on the promising results, Ashton plans to launch an aggressive exploration program in north-central Quebec next year. The company aims to focus on tracing unexplained mineral indicator trains, as well as delineation drilling over the Renard 2 body.

Ashton Mining holds more than 1,760 sq. km in the Otish Mountains area in a joint venture with Quebec government-owned Soquem. Since 1996, the pair has been searching for diamonds in the northern Quebec portion of the Superior Craton. After carrying out reconnaissance programs of heavy mineral sampling and airborne magnetic surveys on more than 450,000 sq. km of prospective terrain, the joint venture initially staked 1,000 sq. km of key ground in two areas of Quebec during the second half of 2000. Ashton zeroed in on the Otish Mountains region, 275 km northeast of Chibougamau, and the Caniapiscau area, 500 km east-northeast of Radisson.