*Information in this current blog is based on information obtained up to mid 2018 and should be considered legacy at this time and should no longer be relied upon.*
This kimberlite was discovered in the 2011 field season by core drilling.
From the photo above, you can see a mantle xenolith (nodule) that probably contains at least 20% pure Garnet and another 20% in pure Chrome diopside. That is a high concentration of those minerals that were formed into this nodule in the mantle and brought all the way up to surface surrounded by host rock (kimberlite). There are quite a few core photos of these mantle xenoliths throughout Chidliak -- Chidliak Mantle Nodules, but this has to be the one with the highest concentration of garnet. Possibility that diamonds could be contained and protected in a nodule as above.
Caustic results were completed and returned significant results.
Discovery news release -- June 22 2011
Excerpt:
The CH-58 kimberlite is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the CH-6 kimberlite and 300 metres south of the CH-55 kimberlite. CH-55 and CH-58 are each estimated to be over 0.5 hectares in size based on geophysical and drill data."
Images (pages 3, 7, 8) -- Images PDF
Page 8 is the most interesting as they did a close up image of the core pointing clear and large garnets and chrome diopsides.
Caustic results -- Oct 6 2011
Excerpts:
"As announced on June 22, 2011, the CH-58 kimberlite was discovered by drilling two angled core holes across the body. CH-58 is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the CH-6 kimberlite and 300 metres south of the CH-55 kimberlite. As announced on September 12, 2011, a 195.6 kilogram sample from CH-55 yielded 214 diamonds larger than the 0.106 mm sieve size including one diamond larger than the 1.18 mm sieve size that weighed 0.03 carats. Both CH-55 and CH-58 are estimated to be over 0.5 hectares in size based on geophysical and drill data."
"The diamond larger than 0.850 mm in the CH-58 sample was also described as being white/colourless. "
A 194.9 kg sample returned 428 stones for a stone/kg count of 2.2.
The stones are spread out throughout the sieves and 1 commercial size microdiamond was found. A 0.006 carat stone. Implied grade is only 3 cpht. However, the high stone count amongst a core drill is significant. The RC drill rig has been known to crush diamonds into smaller diamonds. the core drill will be much more successful in avoiding this, so the 2.2 stone/kg count is very significant and relevant.
The location of this is north of the priority circle and hence is not getting the extra work needed to progress it. If this was within the priority circle, more work would have been done.
This will get more work on it and is a high priority for bulk sample work to determine how the macro stones behave in larger samples.
No comments:
Post a Comment