Kat kimberlite proves diamondiferous

Winter drilling on the Kat diamond joint-venture project in the Attawapiskat region of northern Ontario has drawn to a close.

Navigator Exploration (NVR-V) tested 10 geophysical targets in a program spanning 2,111 metres. The junior uncovered one kimberlite, AT-56, which is 4 km from a cluster of four pipes discovered by De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1988.

The program tested various geophysical responses as part of an attempt to interpret more than 47,000 line km of airborne magnetic data.

Lakefield Research conducted microdiamond analysis on 260.8 kg of samples collected from the first two holes drilled into AT-56. Just seven micros were recovered. To date, nine holes have been completed on the steeply dipping pipe, with intercepts ranging from 25 to 120 metres. Drilling and ground geophysics indicate the pipe is of limited size, with a surface expression of only 45 metres in diameter. Approximately 2.5 tonnes of HQ-size core (63.5-mm in diameter) has been recovered for additional testing.

More targets will be evaluated in the summer.

The Kat project forms part of the Severn joint venture whereby Navigator and Canabrava Diamond (CNB-V) are exploring for diamonds in the James Bay Lowlands. Navigator has met its $1.75-million exploration commitment, thereby earning a half-interest in the project.

In a separate program, Canabrava continues to drill targets on the Frontier project in the Pickle Lake area. Navigator can earn a half-interest in Frontier, which comprises the Ogaki and Caribou claim blocks, by matching Canabrava’s 2001 expenditures by the end of 2003.