7th Jul 2005 06:00
New Kimberlite Intrusion Discovered at the Monument Project in Canada 's NWT Core drilling program to test the DD-17 kimberlite pipe to commence in July Shares Issued and Outstanding: 102,066,601 TSX: SDM AIM: SRE TORONTOand LONDON, July 6 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Diamonds Inc. (TSX: SDM;AIM: SRE) today announced the discovery of a new kimberlite intrusion namedthe DD-42 East Dike on the Monument Project in Canada's Northwest Territories. During the spring geophysical program exploration crews surveyed fivegrids at the project site, completing 117 line-kilometers of detailed groundmagnetics and 97 line-kilometers of detailed horizontal loop electromagnetic(HLEM) surveys. These surveys generated a new level of detail in thegeophysics to assist in preparations for diamond drilling. Diamond drilling focused in an area near the DD-42 kimberlite pipe andsix diamond drill holes were completed for a total 513.6 meters. Drill testingof a linear HLEM conductor and magnetic response intersected the DD-42 EastDike, a new sub-vertical hypabyssal kimberlite dike likely related to the DD-42 kimberlite pipe. The kimberlite dike was tracked for 250 meters along strike andintersected in three drill holes with intercepts ranging from 0.65 to3.0 meters. Mineral chemistry and petrology will be conducted to characterizethis new kimberlite intrusion. Another drill hole targeted the DD-42kimberlite pipe and successfully intercepting kimberlite over 42.5 meters froma depth of 55.5 to 98 meters. The core from this hole has been split andsubmitted for microdiamond and kimberlite mineralogy studies. Kimberlites containing diamonds are known to exist on the MonumentProperty, and include three kimberlite pipes (DD-17, DD-39 and DD-42) and onekimberlite dyke (DD2002). Core from the newly discovered DD-42 East Dike willnow be analysed for diamonds. All kimberlites require further sampling andmodern processing to improve confidence in microdiamond data, mineralchemistry and kimberlite geology. Bulk sampling has not occurred on anykimberlites from the Monument Property. The kimberlites of the MonumentProperty are part of the Lac de Gras cluster, and occur within 40 kilometersof both the Ekati Diamond Mine (operated by BHPBilliton) and Diavik DiamondMines Ltd. (operated by Rio Tinto), which together produce a significantpercentage of the world's diamond production. A review of kimberlite indicator mineral geochemistry with moderntechniques has found that kimberlite DD-17 likely sampled significantlherzolite from the diamond window of lithosphere beneath Lac De Gras. TheNimis and Taylor Single Grain Clinopyroxene Thermobarometer (2001) was used tomake this determination. Diamond stability field chrome spinel, a smalleclogitic component and a moderate number of G10 garnets also complement DD-17's mineral chemistry. Through this modern assessment of DD-17 mineralchemistry interest in this kimberlite has increased. A further review of themicrodiamond data will now be conducted. In addition, new diamond drilling isrequired to collect microdiamond data to establish a diamond distributioncurve for DD-17 and to log core with attention to the possibility of multiplekimberlite phases. The diamond drill used in the spring campaign is currentlypreparing to proceed with this drilling to test the DD-17 kimberlite pipeduring July. The Monument project is owned 22.11% by SouthernEra Diamonds Inc, 57.49%by New Nadina Explorations Ltd, and 20.4% by Archon Minerals Ltd. The projectis operated by New Nadina and supervised by Mr. K. R. Kivi, P.Geo., anindependent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Kivi hasreviewed the content of this news release. SouthernEra Diamonds is one of Canada's largest fully integrated diamondcompanies with extensive diamond exploration in six countries includingCanada, Australia, Gabon, the DRC, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This representsthe fourth most active global diamond exploration program after the majorsDeBeers, BHPB and Rio Tinto. The Company also operates the KlipspringerDiamond Mine in South Africa and maintains an 18 percent free-carried interestin the Camafuca Diamond Project in Angola. For further information: SouthernEra Diamonds Inc., Mr. Howard Bird,Senior Vice President Global Exploration, Telephone: (416) 359-9282,Fax: (416) 359-9141, E-mail: inbox(at)southernera.com, www.southernera.com (SRE SDM.) ENDSOUTHERNERA DIAMONDS INCRelated Shares:
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