DIAMOND PAGE — Ashton pulls few diamonds at Orion

The processing of 1,265 kg of drill core from the Orion kimberlite pipe returned a low diamond count, suggesting the body is uneconomic.

The Orion is the fourth kimberlite to be discovered on the Cross property in the Northwest Territories’ Slave province. Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) found the pipe while drill-testing an indicator mineral anomaly this past spring.

Caustic dissolution analysis on 94.4 kg of material yielded 2 microdiamonds, while the processing of a 1,171-kg mini-bulk sample by dense media separation returned 1 macrodiamond weighing 0.29 carat.

Ashton will continue to

define additional anomalous indicator trends on the Cross property.

The company can earn a 51% interest in each kimberlite discovered on the 43,500-acre group of mineral claims from partners Tenajon Resources (TJS-V) and Pure Gold Resources (PUG-T). The agreement calls for Ashton to fund all costs up to, and including, a 20-tonne bulk sample.