THE DIAMOND PAGE — Macros recovered from Fort la Corne

The Fort la Corne diamond joint venture in Saskatchewan has unearthed an impressive number of macrodiamonds.

A 28.4-tonne kimberlite sample, recovered from 11 small-diameter and two medium-diameter reverse-circulation drill holes, yielded 66 macros measuring greater than 1 mm. No stone ranges were reported.

Participating in the joint venture are Kensington Resources (KRT-V), Uranerz Exploration & Mining, Cameco (CCO-T) and Monopros, each of which holds a 25% interest.

The 28.4-tonne sample was screened on-site; its source was a much larger 55.3-tonne sample taken from 10 new kimberlites and two previously tested kimberlites. While results for the 12 pipes have been lumped together, most of the stones were recovered from three kimberlites.

The stones are being evaluated by South Africa-based De Beers Consolidated Mines, and a statistical analysis of the diamonds, together with further evaluations, will be carried out by Luc Rombouts of Terraconsult in Antwerp, Belgium.

Of the 67 kimberlites drill-tested to date, 34 are deemed diamondiferous.

Results suggest that eight of the pipes warrant further work. A 1997 program of medium- and large-diameter drilling is planned.