Fort a la Corne speculation boosts stock prices

Speculation over results from diamond exploration programs in northern Saskatchewan has boosted the shares of several juniors active in the province.

The flagship of the junior play, Rhonda Mining (ASE), has posted the most spectacular advance, jumping $3.20 to $8 during the first three weeks of March.

Other top performers in March included: Aaron Oil (ASE), up $1.15 to $1.95, Consolidated Pine Channel (VSE), up $2.18 to $3.60 and Great Western Gold (VSE), up 18 cents to 71 cents.

Rhonda, which traded at 50 cents this time last year, recently announced that four drill holes penetrated bedded kimberlite on property it shares with Aaron, near Prince Albert, Sask.

On the strength of these results, Rhonda and Aaron have acquired an additional 600,000 acres, boosting the joint venture’s position to three million acres.

Meanwhile, results from a 200-ton bulk-sampling program on the nearby Cameco-Monopros-Uranerz joint venture at Fort a la Corne — expected in March — have been delayed by a hijacking in South Africa. Last year, the partners recovered 160 macrodiamonds, many of gem quality, from several pipes on the property.