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Post by Franko10 ™ on Aug 24, 2005 13:52:39 GMT -5
Star Diamond Project processing plant recommissioned
14:20 EDT Wednesday, August 24, 2005
SASKATOON, Aug. 24 /CNW/ - George H. Read, P. Geo., Senior Vice President Exploration, is pleased to announce that the on-site processing plant at the Star Diamond Project has been recommissioned and some 2,100 wet tonnes of kimberlite have been processed to date. The kimberlite is part of an expanded bulk sample being collected from the underground workings as part of the prefeasibility study. To date, some 9,200 wet tonnes have been skipped to surface from the 235 metre level, from this phase of sampling.
The on-site processing plant has recently been upgraded with the addition of a tertiary cone crusher (Nordberg HP100) that has been installed to liberate locked diamonds from the plus 6 millimetre light fraction from the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant. The kimberlite crushed by this additional crusher is added directly to the primary feed belt of the plant and, thus, eliminates the separate re-crush cycle that was formerly used to process this plus 6 millimetre light fraction. While kimberlite is still processed in 250 to 350 tonne batches, the continuous feed of each batch has significantly reduced the processing time. For example, a 350 tonne batch can now be processed in two days instead of three days that were required when the re-crush fraction was processed separately.
Underground developments include 570 metres of additional lateral drifting on the 235 metre level since the completion of the initial 27,800 tonne bulk sample. Significant lateral drifts, intended to expand the footprint of the underground sample and recover additional diamonds, have been developed to the south of the initial bulk sample drifts. The current drifting to the south has intersected abundant coarse macrocrystic and mantle xenolith-rich kimberlite. BQ core drilling was completed ahead of all lateral drifting. Development of a ramp to the 225 metre level has commenced and the ramp will enable Shore geologists to investigate and bulk sample kimberlite from a shallower level to the east of the bulk sample workings on the 235 metre level. Two Load/Haul/Dump (LHD) scoop trams are currently active on the 235 metre level.
Senior Vice President Exploration, George Read, states: "The additional underground bulk sample collected as part of the prefeasibility study is proceeding on schedule. The addition of a tertiary cone crusher has greatly increased the process plant efficiency. Diamond results from batch processed kimberlite will be released as they become available."
The prefeasibility study on Star, with a budget of approximately $44 million, is now the largest work program outlined for any of the Fort a la Corne kimberlites. The aim of the prefeasibility study is to define a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral reserve for the Star Kimberlite. Senior Vice President Exploration, George Read, Professional Geoscientist in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, is the Qualified Person responsible for the verification and quality assurance of analytical results. Shore is a Canadian based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of the Company trade on the TSX Exchange under the trading symbol "SGF".
For further information: please contact: Kenneth E. MacNeill, President & C.E.O. or George H. Read, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration at (306) 664-2202.
14:20 EDT Wednesday, August 24, 2005
SASKATOON, Aug. 24 /CNW/ - George H. Read, P. Geo., Senior Vice President Exploration, is pleased to announce that the on-site processing plant at the Star Diamond Project has been recommissioned and some 2,100 wet tonnes of kimberlite have been processed to date. The kimberlite is part of an expanded bulk sample being collected from the underground workings as part of the prefeasibility study. To date, some 9,200 wet tonnes have been skipped to surface from the 235 metre level, from this phase of sampling.
The on-site processing plant has recently been upgraded with the addition of a tertiary cone crusher (Nordberg HP100) that has been installed to liberate locked diamonds from the plus 6 millimetre light fraction from the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant. The kimberlite crushed by this additional crusher is added directly to the primary feed belt of the plant and, thus, eliminates the separate re-crush cycle that was formerly used to process this plus 6 millimetre light fraction. While kimberlite is still processed in 250 to 350 tonne batches, the continuous feed of each batch has significantly reduced the processing time. For example, a 350 tonne batch can now be processed in two days instead of three days that were required when the re-crush fraction was processed separately.
Underground developments include 570 metres of additional lateral drifting on the 235 metre level since the completion of the initial 27,800 tonne bulk sample. Significant lateral drifts, intended to expand the footprint of the underground sample and recover additional diamonds, have been developed to the south of the initial bulk sample drifts. The current drifting to the south has intersected abundant coarse macrocrystic and mantle xenolith-rich kimberlite. BQ core drilling was completed ahead of all lateral drifting. Development of a ramp to the 225 metre level has commenced and the ramp will enable Shore geologists to investigate and bulk sample kimberlite from a shallower level to the east of the bulk sample workings on the 235 metre level. Two Load/Haul/Dump (LHD) scoop trams are currently active on the 235 metre level.
Senior Vice President Exploration, George Read, states: "The additional underground bulk sample collected as part of the prefeasibility study is proceeding on schedule. The addition of a tertiary cone crusher has greatly increased the process plant efficiency. Diamond results from batch processed kimberlite will be released as they become available."
The prefeasibility study on Star, with a budget of approximately $44 million, is now the largest work program outlined for any of the Fort a la Corne kimberlites. The aim of the prefeasibility study is to define a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral reserve for the Star Kimberlite. Senior Vice President Exploration, George Read, Professional Geoscientist in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, is the Qualified Person responsible for the verification and quality assurance of analytical results. Shore is a Canadian based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of the Company trade on the TSX Exchange under the trading symbol "SGF".
For further information: please contact: Kenneth E. MacNeill, President & C.E.O. or George H. Read, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration at (306) 664-2202.
