THE DIAMOND PAGE — Latest Yamba Lake results fall short of

Results of drill core from the Sue and Sputnik pipes at the Yamba Lake property in the Northwest Territories have proved lacklustre.

Owners Tanqueray Resources (ASE), Fibre-Klad Industries (ASE) and Mill City Gold Mining (VSE) reported that a 23.2-kg sample of kimberlite from the Sputnik pipe contained one macrodiamond and three microdiamonds. Two tests on the Sue pipe included a 76.6-kg sample containing one macro and eight micros and a 20.6-kg sample containing one macro and four micros. The joint venture is testing core from a second hole on the Torrie pipe. The Torrie pipe generated excitement this fall when sampling results from the first drill hole returned 152 micros and 39 macros from three samples weighing a total of 161.6 kg.

Mill City is earning a half interest in the Yamba Lake ground, with Fibre-Klad and Tanqueray holding 21% and 29% diluted interests, respectively. Elsewhere in the Northwest Territories:

* A brokered private flow-through placement of two million units at 15 cents each will enable Riley Resources (VSE) to continue exploration of its joint venture with ITL Capital (VSE), near Lac de Gras.

So far, six targets have been outlined, five of which are combined geophysical and geochemical anomalies.

The joint venture plans drilling after targets are further delineated. * Responding to harsh weather, partners Aur Resources (TSE), Thunderwood Resources (TSE), Consolidated Abitibi Resources (CDN) and Jonpol Explorations (TSE) have suspended drilling on their McConnell project.

Prior to the shutdown, three holes were drilled to test low-priority land targets. No kimberlite was intersected.

Drilling of higher-priority targets, under lakes, will begin in January when weather and ice conditions permit.

Saskatchewan

Work is continuing on the Diask Syndicate properties in the south of the province.

Partners Silver Standard (VSE), Carlin Resources (VSE) and Lansdowne Minerals (VSE) are conducting detailed ground geophysics over priority airborne anomalies.

Till samples from Syndicate and surrounding ground have returned diamond-indicator minerals, and further sampling over the better geophysical targets is planned.

* Consolidated Pine Channel Gold (VSE) expects to receive confirmation shortly on what has been visually identified as kimberlitic material at its Tobin Lake joint venture with Golden Peaks Resources (VSE).

Meanwhile, Pine Channel is branching out into gold exploration with the proposed acquisition of three gold-silver-copper properties in Columbia. * Joint-venture partners Rhonda Mining (ASE) and Aaron Oil (ASE) have recovered 20 diamonds from three vertical holes drilled into the Snowden kimberlite at Fort a la Corne. The group of stones included a deep-yellow macrodiamond fragment and three yellow micros.

Each of the holes intersected a flat-lying kimberlitic apron. Rhonda’s exploration programs have identified four different types of kimberlite: apron volcanics; intrusive bodies; volcanic cones and craters; and reworked sediments.

The partners also report that two yellow microdiamonds have been recovered from a hole drilled into the Foxford kimberlite, 30 km west of the Snowden occurrence.

Airborne geophysical surveys, anomaly drilling and definition or bulk-sample drilling are planned for this winter.

Ontario

* Panthco Resources (CND) is planning a second phase of work at its 60%-optioned Benson Creek property near Kirkland Lake.

Several magnetic anomalies have been found and diamond indicator minerals have been found down-ice from the anomalies.

* Findore Minerals (CDN) has signed a deal to earn a half interest in Regal Goldfields’ (CDN) Alfie Creek-02 kimberlite pipe, also near Kirkland Lake. In return, Findore must pay Regal $275,000 before Jan. 31, 1994, and $225,000 before January 31, 1995, along with 200,000 Findore shares. The cash payments will finance exploration of the 02 pipe.

* Drilling on priority targets at the Coral Rapids property, 200 km north of Timmins, is expected to start next February.

Pacific Mariner Exploration (VSE) outlined the targets on the basis of an airborne geophysical survey.

United States

Marum Resources (ASE) has received regulatory approval to acquire the Green property in Montana’s Blaine Cty.

The property contains a well-exposed, recessive, multi-phase, pyroclastic pipe with high concentrations of chrome diopsides and abundant dark-colored garnets which are being submitted for microprobe analysis.

The company plans to collect a sample of weathered pipe material for analysis. * Fleck Resources (VSE) is completing a financing of 500,000 units at 25 cents to fund work on its Diamond Peak, Moen and Nix claims in the Colorado-Wyoming kimberlite district.

The claims are north of the Sloan joint venture between Dia Met Minerals (TSE) and Royalstar Resources (VSE).

Overseas

* Radisson Mining Resources (ME) has staked two diamond properties, totaling 595 sq. km, on the Carnot plateau in the western portion of the Central African Republic. The properties, nestled in an area which produces 80% of the country’s diamonds, are known to contain diamondiferous placer deposits. * A new area of diamond-bearing paleoplacer gravels has been located on Mountain Lake Resources’ (VSE) Nooitgedacht property in South Africa. The new area is 1,100 metres long by 800 metres wide, with gravel thicknesses ranging from 5 to 12 metres.

Drilling is being carried out in the new year to facilitate calculation of reserves.

Mountain Lake is earning a half interest in the property from Southern Cross Diamond Ventures.

* United Reef (TSE) is planning to resume exploration of its Bamingui-Bangoran property in the Central African Republic before the end of November. The company hopes to expand gravel resources near the Bamingui River where, earlier this year, reserves of 297,015 cubic metres grading 0.27 carats per cubic metre were outlined. This resource covers only 2% of the company’s 507-sq.-km holdings.

In January, United Reef plans to carry out a pilot production test which should result in the recovery of about 16,000 carats of diamonds by the end of 1994.