4th May 2006 07:00
SouthernEra Diamonds discovers two additional kimberlites on the Monument Property, Northwest Territories, Canada - Kimberlite intersected in 7 of 8 drill holes - Diamond content to be tested Shares Issued and Outstanding: 159,464,229 TSX: SDM AIM: SRE TORONTO and LONDON, May 3 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Diamonds Inc. (the"Company") (TSX: SDM, AIM: SRE) is pleased to report the discovery of two morenew kimberlites at the Monument Diamond Project in the Northwest Territories,Canada adding the Nic and Sonja kimberlites to the previously announced RIPkimberlite. The Company has enjoyed success in intersecting kimberlite in 7 of8 drill holes with the spring 2006 program still ongoing. Kimberlite Nic is land-based and is located 450 meters west north west ofthe diamond bearing kimberlite pipe DD17. Discovery drill hole MON06-06intersected kimberlite between 60-79.5 meters, and hole MON06-07, which wascollared perpendicular to MON06-06, intersected kimberlite between 35-69meters. Drilling targeted a magnetic low anomaly. The kimberlite is a coarsegrained pyroclastic, with abundant 2 cm accretionary lapilli, coarse chromediopside and pyrope garnet xenocrysts. Kimberlite Sonja is land-based and is located 280 meters north west ofNic and was discovered by drill hole MON06-08, which intersected kimberlitebetween 54-82 meters depth. The tested geophysical target was a strongmagnetic low. The kimberlite is dark grey, macrocrystic and pyroclastic witholivine up to 5 mm in size and coarse grain chrome diopside. All drill holeson both Nic and Sonja were drilled at a -45 degree dip. The Company also drilled the known diamond bearing kimberlite occurrenceDD17-11. Drill hole MON06-04 (dip -45 degree), intersected kimberlite between22-57 meters. A second hole, MON06-05, drilled from the same set-up at a -70degree dip intersected kimberlite between 41.2-93.0 meters depth. Theobjective of these two holes was to define the shape of the body and increasethe sample size for microdiamond testing. Kimberlites Sonja, Nic, DD17, RIP and DD17-11 all align and theirgeophysical anomalies form what looks like a 1.2 km long string of blue pearlson magnetic maps. Their relationship to one another will be determined usingpetrology, age dating, geochemistry and their continuity tested withadditional diamond drilling. Field crews continue to collect detailed ground magnetic and groundgravity data in search of additional kimberlite targets on the property. A 0.4mGal gravity low anomaly that occurs beneath a lake and was defined from oneof this spring's gravity surveys, is currently being drilled tested. The Monument Property hosts four known kimberlite pipes (DD17, DD17-11,DD39 and DD42) and two kimberlite dykes (DD2002 and DD42 East Dyke). All arediamond-bearing and are part of the Lac De Gras Kimberlite Cluster. Improveddiamond data for DD17 is expected in the second quarter of 2006 fromkimberlite samples currently being processed at SRC Laboratories in Saskatoon.The DD17 kimberlite samples were collected during a drill program completed in2005. Drill core from Sonja, Nic, RIP and DD17-11 is being logged in detailand sampled, and will be submitted for caustic fusion microdiamond analysisand mineral chemistry with results projected for the third quarter, 2006. The Monument Property is located on the south shore of Lac de Gras, NWTat the south end of a kimberlite emplacement corridor that hosts the EkatiDiamond Mine (operated by BHP Billiton). The Monument project is owned 57.49%by New Nadina Explorations Limited, 22.11% by SouthernEra Diamonds Inc., and20.4% by Archon Minerals Ltd. with a 1% Royalty payable to each KennecottCanada Exploration Inc. and DHK Diamonds Inc. The project is operated by NewNadina, under supervision of Mr. K. R. Kivi, P.Geol., an independent QualifiedPerson as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Field operations areconducted by SouthernEra Diamonds' experienced exploration team undersupervision of Mr. Uwe Naeher, P.Geol. Mr. Kivi has reviewed the content ofthis news release. SouthernEra Diamonds is one of Canada's fully integrated diamondcompanies with extensive alluvial and kimberlite diamond exploration in theDRC as well as other countries including Canada, Gabon, Zimbabwe and SouthAfrica. The Company also holds the Klipspringer Diamond Mine in South Africaand maintains an 18 percent free-carried interest in the Camafuca DiamondProject in Angola. For further information: SouthernEra Diamonds Inc., Mr. Howard M. Bird,Senior Vice President, Exploration or Ms. Sharon Allan, Investor Relations,Telephone: (416) 359-9282, Fax: (416) 359-9141, E-mail:inbox(at)southernera.com, www.southernera.com; London: 4C-Burvale, CarinaCorbett, Director, Telephone: ++44 (0) 207-907-4761, Fax: ++44 (0) 207-907-4769, Email: Corbett(at)4c-burvale.co.uk (SRE) ENDSOUTHERNERA DIAMONDS INCRelated Shares:
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