The latest exploration results released by Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) bring to 11 the number of kimberlite pipes tested at the Buffalo Hills property in northern Alberta.
The company reported initial results from four newly tested pipes. The sample intervals were randomly selected from within long intersections of kimberlite and then analyzed by caustic dissolution in the company’s North Vancouver laboratories.
Only one macrodiamond (defined as having a maximum dimension of more than 0.5 mm) was recovered from the four latest pipes tested. This stone was recovered from a 47.2-kg sample extracted from the K5B pipe, which also yielded 13 microdiamonds from the same sample. A 56.7-kg sample from the same pipe yielded 18 microdiamonds but no macros.
To date, four of the 11 pipes tested at Buffalo Hills have returned macrodiamonds. Pipe K14 yielded 12 macros and 190 micros from a 204.1-kg sample. Ashton says the results have led to a decision to carry out a mini-bulk sampling program this summer on Pipes K14, K5A-B and K6. Pipe K6 yielded 5 macros and 53 micros from 321.5 kg. of sample, whereas Pipe K5A-B returned 1 macro and 74 micros from a sample with a combined weight of 300.8 kg. Ashton plans to extract about 10 tonnes from each of these pipes.
At the same time, exploration work is planned to search for additional pipes on the project, which covers 26.8 million acres.
Ashton is operator and has the right to earn a 42.5% interest in the land package from Alberta Energy. Ashton’s junior partner, Pure Gold Resources (PUG-T), can earn a 15% stake.
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