23rd Jan 2006 17:25
SouthernEra commences diamond testing of kimberlitic bodies discovered in Gabon, Central Africa Shares issued and outstanding: 128,343,101 TSX: SDM AIM: SRE TORONTO/LONDON, England, Jan. 23 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Diamonds Inc.("SouthernEra") (TSX: SDM, AIM: SRE) today reported that micro-diamond testing("MiDA") of kimberlitic bodies discovered in Gabon, Central Africa hascommenced and that 7 new kimberlitic bodies within its diamond explorationpermit areas have been discovered. This brings the number of kimberliticbodies discovered by SouthernEra in Gabon to 41. One of the new kimberliticbodies contained 5 high pressure G10 garnets in a small volume of rockconcentrate, whilst others contained diamond inclusion spinel. Both suggestthat the kimberlitic bodies have a high potential to host diamonds. Six of the seven newly discovered kimberlitic bodies occur within the1,837 square-kilometer Makongonio diamond project area where SouthernEra has a60% interest in a Joint Venture with the Gabonese mining company, COGEMAT(35%) and GEOSCAN (5%). This permit area has historically produced the highestvalue and largest stone size alluvial diamonds in Gabon, with gem-qualitydiamonds of over 50 carats having been recovered. Previous exploration effortsby competitors failed to locate the primary source of the diamonds or anykimberlitic indicator minerals. Over the past 2 years SouthernEra has discovered 14 kimberlitic bodieswithin this permit area including the first known pipe (approximately 1 hectare in size) in Gabon. Some of the 'dyke-like' bodies have widths up to21m, and sit within kimberlitic structural emplacement corridors up to 15km inlength. As announced previously, 2 out of the 2 tested kimberlitic bodiesreturned positive micro-diamond results. The bodies discovered by SouthernEraare, in all likelihood, the sources of the high value alluvial deposits.Extensive evidence of artisinal activity exists immediately downstream of someof these bodies. A map of the Makongonio diamond project is available on theSouthernEra website. In addition, a kimberlitic dyke over 2m wide was also discovered withinthe 100% owned Sud diamond permit, located approximately 60km to the northeastof the Makongonio discoveries. Numerous kimberlitic spinel (including someexhibiting diamond inclusion chemistry) and 10 kimberlitic garnets wererecovered from a small rock sample. Five of the garnets are high pressureG10's exhibiting up to 12.49% chrome, these being garnet compositionsindicative of derivation from diamond stable source areas and suggest that therock has a high potential of containing diamonds. This body is immediatelyupstream of an historic alluvial diamond occurrence, where SouthernErapreviously recovered a G10 garnet and numerous kimberlitic spinel during itsreconnaissance stream sampling campaign. A plot of the garnet chemistry isavailable on the SouthernEra website. Commenting on these newest discoveries, SouthernEra's Senior VicePresident of Exploration, Howard Bird, said: "These recent discoveries haveadded to favourable results in Gabon in 2005. It is encouraging to have foundhigh pressure garnets in our Gabonese discoveries, indicating high diamondpotential of the kimberlitic bodies. These 'dyke-like' bodies range inthickness from 2m to over 21m, unlike most known 'dyke' systems that normallyoccur in the 1m width range. In addition, it is evident from our samplingresults that these emplacement systems have considerable strike lengths inexcess of 10km. I am looking forward to the results of the first phase ofevaluation of these and other bodies that are soon to be evaluated". SouthernEra's exploration program in Gabon during 2006 will focus onevaluating the diamond potential of the known kimberlitic bodies and tocontinue to follow-up on positive kimberlitic indicator mineral stream sampleresults that suggest additional bodies are to be discovered. Kimberliticsamples from six separate bodies recently arrived in Canada for MiDA andkimberlitic samples from a further 8 separate bodies are en route to Canadafor MiDA. The results are anticipated in the 2nd Quarter of 2006. In addition,numerous 10 to 50 tonne mini-bulk samples will be collected from selected high-interest bodies for macro-diamond testing. Collection of mini-bulk samples hascommenced from some of the bodies. A suitable mini processing plant has beenassembled in South Africa and is being shipped to Gabon, for 2006 sampleprocessing. In addition to the above mentioned Sud and Makongonio diamond projects,SouthernEra has two other diamond exploration projects in Gabon; the 100%owned Kango project where SouthernEra recently reported the discovery of twonew kimberlitic bodies and the 95% owned M'bigou project. Mr. Uwe Naeher, Professional Geologist, is the qualified person, under NI 43-101, responsible for the technical information in this release. Gabon is one of five countries in which SouthernEra is engaged inextensive diamond exploration. Others are Canada, the DRC, Zimbabwe, and SouthAfrica. The Company also maintains an 18 percent free-carried interest in theCamafuca Diamond Project in Angola and operates the Klipspringer Diamond Minein South Africa. 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. For 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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