EXPLORING FOR DIAMONDS AND THE NORTH — Kirkland Lake play

Things may be quiet now, but, come autumn, the diamond play near Kirkland Lake, Ont., is expected to gain momentum. By then, the major players will have finished evaluating results from early spring and summer programs.

One of the most active companies in the region is Sudbury Contact Mines (TSE) which controls more than 54,000 acres. In the first half of 1993, it spent about $500,000 on exploration, mostly as follow-up on the Diamond Lake property. A kimberlite pipe, discovered there in 1992, has yielded 14 microdiamonds, including six of gem quality.

Sudbury Contact recently completed 20 reverse circulation holes totaling 2,000 ft. on the Diamond Lake, Misema and Wendigo project areas. Senior Geologist Peter Hubacheck says results from these holes are pending and he anticipates diamond drilling will be carried out on several targets later this fall.

Gwen Resources (ASE) is planning a fall drill campaign on its holdings in the Harker-Holloway area, northeast of Kirkland Lake. The company recently completed 60 miles of linecutting and ground geophysics which outlined 51 anomalies thought to represent kimberlite dykes.

At Gwen’s New Buffonta property, a 50-50 joint venture with Deak Resources (TSE), kimberlite dykes have been identified over a strike length of 2,500 ft. along the Buffonta fault zone.

In July, Findore Minerals (CDN) completed a 516-ft. vertical drill hole on the AM-47 kimberlite pipe in Arnold Twp. Findore is earning a half interest in the pipe from Strike Minerals (CDN) which optioned the property from Lac Minerals (TSE) for $50,000 and a 3% net smelter return.

The hole intersected 316 ft. of kimberlite with abundant indicator minerals typical of a diamondiferous kimberlite pipe.

Findore President Joseph De Felice told The Northern Miner the hole appears to have intersected the edge of the pipe. In October, the company plans to carry out a magnetic survey to define the centre of the pipe and then drill three large-diameter holes to collect a 20-ton sample.

Findore and Strike are also 50-50 partners on four targets in Tannahill Twp., and the former has 17 additional kimberlite targets in the Kirkland Lake camp. Earlier this summer, partners Regal Goldfields (CDN) and KWG Resources (ME) recovered seven macrodiamonds weighing 0.029-0.204 carats from a 135-ton sample collected from the west side of the C-14 pipe in Clifford Twp. All the stones were gem-quality, according to Regal President Douglas Bannerman. Moreover, the 0.2-carat stone is the largest known diamond ever recovered from a kimberlite pipe in eastern Canada.

Bannerman says the C-14 pipe has at least four, and perhaps as many as 10, phases, which suggests the bulk sample may have been collected from the wrong portion of the pipe. The partners are now looking at collecting a bulk sample from the east side.

In Arnold Twp., Regal has three additional properties with known kimberlites (A-1, A-4 apple and A-4 banana) and one (the B-30) in Bisley Twp. In Edwards Twp., a reverse circulation hole by partners Trade Wind Resources (VSE) and East-West Resource (VSE) contained weathered chips of kimberlitic material. East-West President Robert Middleton says the hole was drilled to test a magnetic feature similar to the one at the Aykhal diamond deposit in the former U.S.S.R.

Trade Wind has four additional deals with East-West and five with Cross Lake Resources (VSE).

Also active in the area are:

* Partners Goodgold Resources (VSE) and Bethlehem Resources (VSE) which have just completed an airborne geophysical survey over their Sharp Lake property in Bucke Twp., near New Liskeard;

* Tandem Resources (TSE) which is exploring a 16-sq.-mile land package in Guibord Twp. near Matheson (Homestake Mining (TSE) outlined several kimberlites in the area during a gold exploration program);

* T&H Resources (TSE) which holds diamond properties in Catherine Twp.; n Pure Gold Resources (TSE) which has joint ventures with Cross Lake, East-West, Golden Dragon Resources (VSE) and Glen Auden Resources (TSE); and * Greater Lenora Resources (TSE) with land holdings in Eby Twp.