Post by Franko10 ™ on Sept 20, 2004 11:00:07 GMT -5
May 21, 2002
SHORE GOLD ANNOUNCES POSITIVE DIAMOND RECOVERY RESULTS FROM STAR 031RC
Jonathan Challis, President, is pleased to report that very positive results have been received from the processing of the 82.7 tonnes of recovered sample from Star 031RC that was sent to Lakefield Research Limited in Ontario and to DeBeers Geological Sample Processing Services (GSPS) laboratory in South Africa. A total of 184 macro diamonds were recovered that did not pass through either a 1.18 mm square mesh sieve at Lakefield or a DeBeers standard Class 1 diamond sieve (equivalent to approximately 1.1 mm square mesh), with a total weight of 8.52 carats. The two largest stones recovered (both of which are fragments) weighed 0.64 carats and 0.40 carats respectively. In addition, all kimberlite fragments were passed over a 1.2 mm screen on the drilling shaker table, so any liberated diamonds smaller than this would not have been included in the samples. Now that diamond recovery has been completed, it is planned to send the diamonds that were recovered by Lakefield to DeBeers for further analysis (including diamond breakage studies, grade modelling, luminescence studies and the valuation of the recovered stones) to better delineate the parameters necessary for the bulk sampling of the Star kimberlite.
These results are considered to be highly encouraging, especially in light of the fact that the size analysis (granulometry) of the kimberlite chips that were sent for processing revealed that only 7.04 % of the chips were larger than 6.70 mm, and only 38.72 % of the kimberlite chips were larger than 1.18 mm. It would appear that the hardness of the kimberlite, together with the drilling bits used, resulted in an over-grinding of the kimberlite in the hole, consequently producing smaller kimberlite chips than was anticipated. The following chart outlines the sample granulometry, including the fines that passed through the 1.2 mm screen on the drilling shaker table.
Screen Size
(Millimetres)
Percentage of sample in each size fraction Cumulative Percentage
12.700 1.05% 1.05%
9.525 1.62% 2.67%
6.700 4.37% 7.04%
4.750 5.21% 12.25%
3.350 6.76% 19.01%
2.360 6.79% 25.80%
1.700 5.97% 31.77%
1.180 6.95% 38.72%
-1.180 61.28% 100.00%
Lakefield observed the presence of eclogitic minerals in the samples. This could be highly significant as eclogite may be richly diamondiferous and relatively minor amounts of diamondiferous eclogite in the mantle source region can lead to good or high diamond grades in the host kimberlite.
As was announced on November 5, the large diameter (24") drill hole, Star 031RC intersected 192.37 metres of continuous kimberlite, from which 82.7 tonnes of dry kimberlite chips was recovered and fed into the DeBeers DMS plant in Grande Prairie for processing. Each sample was crushed to less than 8 mm prior to processing through the dense media plant. The heavy mineral fraction greater than 1 mm in size was recovered for final diamond extraction and the remainder of the (+1 mm) DMS lights material has been saved for possible check analysis if warranted. The DMS plant produced a heavy mineral concentrate (containing diamonds) of 394.5 kilograms which was divided into two approximately equal samples – one half was sent to DeBeers Geological Sample Processing Services (GSPS) laboratory in Johannesburg for diamond recovery; the other half was shipped to Lakefield Research Limited in Ontario for diamond recovery. A representative of ACA Howe International Limited was present at Grande Prairie as an independent observer and supervised the opening, sampling and sealing of all samples collected.
The results from the processing of this sample will help to evaluate the properties of both the kimberlite and the specific characteristics of the diamonds. These properties and characteristics need to be ascertained prior to finalizing both the method of extracting a major bulk sample of up to 25,000 tonnes and the design of a bulk sample treatment plant that would be needed to process the sample, required to determine the economic potential of the Star Kimberlite.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shore is a Canadian-based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of the Company trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "SGF".
For further information please contact:
Kenneth E. MacNeill, President & C.E.O.; George Sanders, Vice President Corporate Development; or George H. Read, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration at (306) 664-2202
SHORE GOLD ANNOUNCES POSITIVE DIAMOND RECOVERY RESULTS FROM STAR 031RC
Jonathan Challis, President, is pleased to report that very positive results have been received from the processing of the 82.7 tonnes of recovered sample from Star 031RC that was sent to Lakefield Research Limited in Ontario and to DeBeers Geological Sample Processing Services (GSPS) laboratory in South Africa. A total of 184 macro diamonds were recovered that did not pass through either a 1.18 mm square mesh sieve at Lakefield or a DeBeers standard Class 1 diamond sieve (equivalent to approximately 1.1 mm square mesh), with a total weight of 8.52 carats. The two largest stones recovered (both of which are fragments) weighed 0.64 carats and 0.40 carats respectively. In addition, all kimberlite fragments were passed over a 1.2 mm screen on the drilling shaker table, so any liberated diamonds smaller than this would not have been included in the samples. Now that diamond recovery has been completed, it is planned to send the diamonds that were recovered by Lakefield to DeBeers for further analysis (including diamond breakage studies, grade modelling, luminescence studies and the valuation of the recovered stones) to better delineate the parameters necessary for the bulk sampling of the Star kimberlite.
These results are considered to be highly encouraging, especially in light of the fact that the size analysis (granulometry) of the kimberlite chips that were sent for processing revealed that only 7.04 % of the chips were larger than 6.70 mm, and only 38.72 % of the kimberlite chips were larger than 1.18 mm. It would appear that the hardness of the kimberlite, together with the drilling bits used, resulted in an over-grinding of the kimberlite in the hole, consequently producing smaller kimberlite chips than was anticipated. The following chart outlines the sample granulometry, including the fines that passed through the 1.2 mm screen on the drilling shaker table.
Screen Size
(Millimetres)
Percentage of sample in each size fraction Cumulative Percentage
12.700 1.05% 1.05%
9.525 1.62% 2.67%
6.700 4.37% 7.04%
4.750 5.21% 12.25%
3.350 6.76% 19.01%
2.360 6.79% 25.80%
1.700 5.97% 31.77%
1.180 6.95% 38.72%
-1.180 61.28% 100.00%
Lakefield observed the presence of eclogitic minerals in the samples. This could be highly significant as eclogite may be richly diamondiferous and relatively minor amounts of diamondiferous eclogite in the mantle source region can lead to good or high diamond grades in the host kimberlite.
As was announced on November 5, the large diameter (24") drill hole, Star 031RC intersected 192.37 metres of continuous kimberlite, from which 82.7 tonnes of dry kimberlite chips was recovered and fed into the DeBeers DMS plant in Grande Prairie for processing. Each sample was crushed to less than 8 mm prior to processing through the dense media plant. The heavy mineral fraction greater than 1 mm in size was recovered for final diamond extraction and the remainder of the (+1 mm) DMS lights material has been saved for possible check analysis if warranted. The DMS plant produced a heavy mineral concentrate (containing diamonds) of 394.5 kilograms which was divided into two approximately equal samples – one half was sent to DeBeers Geological Sample Processing Services (GSPS) laboratory in Johannesburg for diamond recovery; the other half was shipped to Lakefield Research Limited in Ontario for diamond recovery. A representative of ACA Howe International Limited was present at Grande Prairie as an independent observer and supervised the opening, sampling and sealing of all samples collected.
The results from the processing of this sample will help to evaluate the properties of both the kimberlite and the specific characteristics of the diamonds. These properties and characteristics need to be ascertained prior to finalizing both the method of extracting a major bulk sample of up to 25,000 tonnes and the design of a bulk sample treatment plant that would be needed to process the sample, required to determine the economic potential of the Star Kimberlite.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shore is a Canadian-based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of the Company trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "SGF".
For further information please contact:
Kenneth E. MacNeill, President & C.E.O.; George Sanders, Vice President Corporate Development; or George H. Read, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration at (306) 664-2202