17th Mar 2006 07:00
Encouraging micro-diamond results received from north-eastern lobe of DO-27 0.59 AND 0.18 CARAT DIAMONDS FOUND IN N.Q. DIAMETER (47mm) CORE HOLES Shares issued and outstanding: 128,343,101 TSX: SDM AIM: SRE TORONTO and LONDON, UK, March 16 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Diamonds Inc. (TSX: SDM; AIM: SRE) is pleased to announce that it has received fromPeregrine Diamonds Ltd, operating partner of the WO Project Joint Venture, theresults of caustic fusion analysis of micro-diamond samples by theSaskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") of the seven NQ diameter core holesdrilled into the north-eastern lobe of the DO-27 kimberlite, WO DiamondProject, NWT, Canada, last Fall. The north-eastern lobe of DO-27 was subject to an underground bulk sampleby Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. ("KCEI") in 1994 and results from thatbulk sample, which was largely from a basal volcaniclastic unit, graded 0.36 carats/tonne. Peregrine's successful 2005 mini-bulk sample of the Cr-diopside rich pyroclastic phase of the main vent of DO-27 ("PK"), which isgeologically distinct to the volcaniclastic kimberlites in the north-easternlobe and constitutes the majority of the kimberlite at DO-27, graded 0.98 carats/tonne. The geology of the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 is more complex than themain vent and consists of a thin, discontinuous, upper volcaniclastic unit("Upper VK"), a pyroclastic unit ("PK") that is contiguous with the PK of themain vent, and a highly variable, volcaniclastic unit ("Lower VK") that can becorrelated as a package, but contains many layers that cannot be easilycorrelated from hole to hole. The Lower VK is underlain by volcaniclasticmicrobreccia and hypabyssal rocks. Geological observations from core drillingand these latest micro-diamond results further substantiate that the Upper andLower VK units of the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 are geologically distinctfrom the pyroclastic unit of the main vent. The various sub-units within theLower VK (referred to as Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) reveal micro-diamondcounts that are both higher and lower than those from the PK unit, implyingthat different horizons within this Lower VK unit have different diamondcontents. Sub-unit Lower VK-1 is a black, olivine, macrocrystal volcaniclastickimberlite which is similar to the kimberlite described by KCEI for theirunderground adit, which further suggests that KCEI's 1994 bulk sample may havesampled one of the lower grade horizons. The fact that relatively large diamonds (0.59 and 0.18 carats) wereobtained from NQ core drill intercepts in the Lower VK unit of the north-eastern lobe indicates good potential for the presence of large stoneswithin the north-eastern lobe. Also, the presence of horizons within thenorth-eastern lobe with micro-diamond contents equal or better than those seenin the main vent suggests that portions of the north-eastern lobe could gradehigher than the main vent. The PK and Lower VK units are the two volumetrically most significantunits in the north-eastern lobe and comprise most of the samples submitted formicro-diamond analysis. The volcaniclastic microbreccia and the hypabyssalbreccia were not sampled due to the volumetric insignificance and graniticdilution with these particular units. Material from the seven core holes havebeen combined by geological unit to give a better understanding of the micro-diamond distribution within each geological unit. Micro-diamond results for the seven core holes drilled into the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 are as follows: Upper VK and Main PK ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Upper VK PK (upper horizon) PK (lower horizon) --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 1 0.082195 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 1 0.038415 2 0.038035 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 0 0 4 0.033735 10 0.10699 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 0 0 14 0.04835 20 0.066265 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 3 0.003115 20 0.02619 26 0.03461 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 1 0.000465 41 0.022155 62 0.03344 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 10 0.00173 53 0.009665 95 0.01729 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 3 0.0002 62 0.00446 112 0.00784 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 15 0.000375 115 0.00337 165 0.004575 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 14 0.000175 139 0.001975 254 0.003195 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total 46 0.00606 449 0.188315 747 0.394435 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 22.1 172.3 222.6 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 2.08 2.61 3.36 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lower VK - (listed by sub-units Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Lower VK - 1 Lower VK - 2 Lower VK - 3 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 1 0.592385 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 1 0.181255 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 3 0.032415 0 0 1 0.01464 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 2 0.00702 1 0.003785 5 0.021925 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 2 0.002035 1 0.00216 6 0.011645 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 14 0.00628 8 0.00418 12 0.00482 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 21 0.003075 13 0.00221 17 0.002695 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 27 0.00197 17 0.001465 14 0.000865 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 19 0.00062 32 0.00092 24 0.000705 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 44 0.00061 12 0.000235 69 0.000805 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total 133 0.23528 85 0.60734 148 0.0581 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 72.6 32.85 40.95 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 1.83 2.59 3.61 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lower VK - (listed by sub-units Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) -------------------------------------------------- Unit Lower VK - 4 Lower VK - 5 --------------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 1 0.044135 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 1 0.016465 1 0.006355 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 4 0.020085 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 6 0.00878 4 0.00491 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 8 0.00447 12 0.006415 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 22 0.003695 17 0.002895 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 45 0.00299 24 0.001325 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 58 0.001445 31 0.000755 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 57 0.00065 43 0.00051 --------------------------- ------------------- Total 201 0.05858 133 0.0673 --------------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 63.45 44.45 --------------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 3.17 2.99 -------------------------------------------------- DO-18 ----- Micro-diamond results for DO-18, a kimberlite located approximately 700 meters North of DO-27, are pending from SRC and should be received by mid-April, 2006. Peregrine's diamond exploration programs are conducted under thedirection of Dr. Jennifer Pell, Vice President Exploration, P. Geo., (BC),P.Geo. (NT/NU), a qualified person under NI 43-101. SouthernEra holds a 4.9% interest in the WO Diamond Project. SouthernEra Diamonds is one of Canada's largest fully integrated diamondcompanies with extensive diamond exploration in five countries includingCanada, Gabon, the DRC, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This represents one of themost active global diamond exploration programs after the majors DeBeers, BHPBand Rio Tinto. The Company also operates the Klipspringer Diamond Mine inSouth Africa and maintains an 18 percent free-carried interest in the CamafucaDiamond Project in Angola. Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking and,therefore, involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results todiffer materially. Such forward-looking statements include comments regardingexploration work. Actual results could differ materially from thoseanticipated. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-lookingstatements. /or further information: SouthernEra Diamonds Inc.: Howard Bird, SeniorVice President Exploration, or Sharon Allan, Investor Relations, Telephone:(416) 359-9282, Fax: (416) 359-9141, E-mail: inbox(at)southernera.com,www.southernera.com; London: 4C-Burvale: Carina Corbett, Director, Telephone:++44 (0) 207-907-4761, Fax: ++44 (0) 207-907-4769, Email:Corbett(at)4c-burvale.co.uk (SDM. SRE) ENDSOUTHERNERA DIAMONDS INCRelated Shares:
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