Partners bullish at Brauna

Trenching by partners Majescor Resources (MAJ-V, RSMJF-O) and Vaaldiam Resources (VAA-T, VAAFF-O) has turned up another kimberlite body on the Brauna property in Bahia state, Brazil.

Dubbed Brauna 18, it has been traced along its northwest-trending strike for some 250 metres, with a width varying between 15 and 25 metres. It remains open along both directions of strike.

The body was discovered during follow-up testing of one of eight magnetic anomalies identified during a property-wide survey last month. The partners expect to turn up further kimberlite bodies via testing of the remaining anomalies during the next few months.

Brauna 18 is situated around 500 metres northwest of the diamondiferous Brauna 7 pipe, which is currently the subject of delineation drilling. So far, 9 core holes totaling 1,154.2 metres indicate that the elongated pipe is 30 metres to 50 metres wide over a length of 670 metres. It is overlain by 12 metres of sand and soil.

In all, Brauna is now home to four known kimberlite pipes. The pipes are associated with a swarm of kimberlite dykes that have been traced over around 15 km. The largest pipe is Brauna 3, with a surface exposure of 1.7 hectares. The dikes range from less than a metre in width to up to 5 metres.

Delineation drilling is nearing completion at Brauna 3, with 20 holes sunk for 2,256.45 metres on the north and south lobes; three of the holes tested the central portion. The pipe measures 80-100 metres in width over a strike length of 325 metres. It has been drill tested to a depth of 200 metres.

Brauna 3 is reported to have previously yielded diamonds. In 2000 and 2001, a local farmer recovered 250 diamonds totalling 372.9 carats from colluvial gravels and soils excavated immediately downslope from the pipe. The stones are reported to range in size from 0.2 carats to 15.5 carats, with an average stone size of 1.49 carats.

The partners also say that a sample derived from an 8-metre-deep pit into the kimberlite pipe itself reportedly yielded a 3.55-carat diamond.

A mini-bulk sampling program aimed at determining the diamond content of Brauna’s pipes and dikes is scheduled for the third quarter.

Brauna is held 60% by Vaaldiam, with Majescor owning the balance.