 | 
| |
| | Wed Sep 6, 2006
Diamondex Updates Brodeur and Lena West Projects
|
| | Vancouver, B.C. -- Diamondex Resources Ltd. (DSP-TSX.V) ("Diamondex") is pleased to provide exploration program updates for its Lena West and Brodeur projects. (See www.diamondex.net for project locations).
Lena West Project, Northwest Territories
The 2006 summer exploration program for the Lena West project area commenced on July 2nd and field operations are expected to continue until the middle of the fourth quarter. Detailed follow-up work is concentrated over five diamond prospective districts within the Lena West project area. These districts have been identified through high resolution airborne magnetic surveys, detailed ground geophysical investigations, the application of soil geochemistry and most importantly, the collection and analysis of kimberlite indicator minerals (KIM) from three successive field seasons of heavy mineral concentrates (HMC) derived from stream and till samples sites throughout the project area. Drill testing has commenced and it is expected that a minimum of 20 high priority targets will be tested during the current field season.
Under the scope of this summer's sampling program, which is being directed by Dr. Nikolai Pokhilenko, Director of the Diamond Research Institute, Novosibirsk, Russia, approximately 1,300 of the 1,500 planned follow-up till and stream sediment samples have been collected to date. For the first time during the history of the Lena West project, a field based HMC sample processing and KIM picking laboratory has been utilized. This facility ensures a quick turnaround for high priority samples, allowing field crews to follow-up anomalous sample sites on a timely basis. Since 2003, over 5,000 HMC samples have been collected throughout the project area. Through the recovery of thousands of KIMs, which include a high proportion of coarse grained and relatively pristine (proximal to source) pyrope grains of harzburgitic and lherzolitic provenance, as well as large (up to 8mm) ilmenite grains, at least five diamond prospective districts have been recognized within the project area. In total, 13 diamonds have been recovered over the course of the successive sampling programs, 5 of which were recovered during the 2005 sampling program. The largest diamond measures 3.0mm in it longest dimension. Pyrope and ilmenite grains were recovered from all of the sites that produced diamond discoveries in 2005.
The 2006 drill testing program, the first for the Lena West project outside of the relatively confined Lac des Bois district, will utilize a helicopter suported rig. It is expected that a $1 million program will test a minimum of 20 high priority targets. Target selection has been prioritized through the combination of geophysical and KIM anomalies. In total, 161,800 line kilometres of airborne geophysical surveys, consisting primarily of high-resolution magnetic surveys, have been completed over the Lena West project area. This total includes 20,000 line kilometres of detailed surveys conducted in May and June of this year. Presently, detailed ground magnetic surveys are being conducted on selected airborne anomalies scheduled for drill testing over the next 6 weeks. The 2006 exploration budget for Lena West is $6 million. To date, $15 million has been expended on the project area. Results will be announced upon receipt and compilation of all analytical data.
The Lena West Project is comprised of 34 prospecting permits and 489 mineral claims, totaling 3.34 million acres, centred approximately 900 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife and 200 kilometres southeast of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The Lena West Project is 100% owned by Diamondex.
Brodeur Project, Nunavut
Diamondex crews recently completed the company's second field season on the Brodeur Peninsula. This $0.9 million program was designed primarily to follow-up high priority target areas outlined through the 2005 exploration program which included the collection of 662 till and stream sediment samples, the flying of a combined total of 24,025 line kilometres of detailed airborne magnetic/EM surveys, as well as detailed gravity and magnetic ground grids over the previously discovered Tuwawi kimberlite.
During the month of July, 362 follow-up till and stream sediment samples were collected. In addition, 13 anomalies delineated through the 2005 airborne surveys were followed up with detailed ground based magnetic surveys. However, the most effective exploration was achieved through the prospecting of magnetic trends within a 40km2 area surrounding the three previously known kimberlite bodies (Kuuriaq, Nanuk, and Tuwawi).
Kimberlite outcroppings, subcrop and boulders located along the geophysical expression of the structure known to host the Kuuriaq intrusion indicate that the steeply dipping, sheet like body has a potential strike length of 5.5 kilometres. One new discovery along this northeast striking structure formed 400m of continuous outcrop with observed widths of 1.2 to 2.2m. Centered 1.2 kilometres to the southwest of the Kuuriaq kimberlite, another outcrop measuring approximately 3m x 2m was located. This location, like all the intrusions located along the Kuuriaq structure, is comprised of hypabyssal, fine-grained macrocrystic kimberlite.
The investigation of a magnetic anomaly measuring approximately 180m by 100m led to the discovery of a new kimberlite body, which has been named "Katigia". This dyke-like body was defined in outcrop for approximately 15m with a thickness ranging from 1.5m to 3.5m. In this immediate vicinity, kimberlite boulders measuring 40 to 60 cm were located over an area measuring 40m x 50m.
Numerous areas of kimberlite float were located within the investigated area, but higher priority was put on those areas that demonstrated a coincident magnetic anomaly. Significantly, numerous gravel sized pieces of kimberlite fragments were recovered directly over a magnetic target, which measures approximately 200m by 160m. This isolated anomaly is not associated with any known trends and is located nearly 3km northwest of the Kuuriaq structure.
An aggregate total of nearly 600 kg of kimberlite was collected from the recently discovered sites described above. The first batches of this material have been submitted to Kennecott's Thunder Bay Diamond Services Laboratory for diamond analysis through caustic fusion, as well as recovery of indicator minerals. Results from this initiative will help with the selection of drill targets for a program scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2007. This program will also include a major drill testing program for the Tuwawi kimberlite. This intrusion, which has a surface expression of approximately 4 ha is thought to widen significantly at a depth of approximately 200m below the surface. In addition to the delineation drilling component of this program, a mini-bulk sample will be collected from Tuwawi in a effort to determine potential diamond grades and quality.
Since Diamondex optioned the Brodeur project from Kennecott, it has expended $2.2 million on the project.
The Brodeur Project is centred on the northern half of the Brodeur Peninsula of Baffin Island. Diamondex has the exclusive option to earn a 100% interest in the property, subject to an underlying Property Acquisition Agreement with Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. The property comprises 409,020 acres, covering 32 optioned claims and 6 prospecting permits and hosts three known diamond-bearing kimberlite bodies: Tuwawi, Nunuk, and Kuuriaq.
David Clarke, P.Geol., MSc., Vice President of Exploration for Diamondex Resources Ltd. is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for program design and quality control of exploration undertaken by Diamondex Resources Ltd.
DIAMONDEX RESOURCES LTD.
"Randy C. Turner"
Randy C. Turner, President
For further information, please contact Diamondex via telephone at
Tel: 604-687-6644 or via E-mail at diamonds@diamondex.net
Diamondex Resources Ltd., P.O. Box 11584, 1410 - 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 4N8
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. |
| |
| | You can view the Next News Releases - 2006 item: Wed Oct 11, 2006, Diamondex Updates Lena West
You can view the Previous News Releases - 2006 item: Tue Jun 13, 2006, Incentive Stock Options
You can return to the main News Releases - 2006 page, or press the Back button on your browser.
|
| |
