Business
Initial Drilling of Seitapera Kimberlite
Initial Drilling of Seitapera Kimberlite.
About this update from Karelian Diamond Resources Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n (AIM: KDR) \n\n 27 FEBRUARY, 2006\n\n INITIAL DRILLING OF SEITAPERÄ KIMBERLITE SHOWS \n\n 'SIGNIFICANT DIAMOND CARRYING CAPACITY' \n\n * Massive Hypabyssal Core Surrounded By 50 metre Brecciated Zone\n \n * Overall Shape And Size Of Pipe Now Better Defined\n \n * Kimberlite Sample Collected For Micro-Diamond Analysis\n \nKarelian Diamond Resources plc (Karelian) is pleased to announce that first\nphase drilling of the known diamondiferous Seitaperä pipe on its licences near\nKuhmo, Finland, has been highly encouraging. It has shown the pipe to have a\nmassive hypabyssal kimberlite core surrounded by a 50m-wide zone of explosively\nemplaced breccia comprising 30 per cent. - 70 per cent. kimberlite.\n\nTwo angled holes totalling 172.8m were drilled over the geophysical anomaly at\nSeitaperä by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), operating under contract\nto Karelian.\n\nDetailed logging of the rock types encountered, particularly those in the\nexplosive breccia zone, shows that the original magma had a high volatile\ncontent, indicating a significant mantle diamond carrying capacity. In\naddition, the GTK has undertaken temperature studies on pyrope garnet indicator\nmineral grains, particularly those of G10 composition, which it collected from\nthe Seitaperä area. These indicate that significant sampling of the mantle\nwithin the diamond stability field took place as the kimberlite from which the\nindicators are derived rose to surface.\n\nA 10kg sample of kimberlite has been taken from the second drill hole and will\nbe sent for micro-diamond analysis\n\nThe Seitaperä pipe has a surface area of approximately 4 hectares and was\nsubject to very limited drilling by the previous licence holders who completed\na few shallow vertical holes on the property. The angled holes now completed by\nKarelian have delineated the northern and southern extent of the kimberlite\nbody in the drilled area, thus helping to define the overall shape and size of\nthe pipe.\n\nThis was one of the three objectives of the Company's drilling programme, the\nother two being to estimate the relative diamond-bearing capacity of the rock\ntypes and to obtain sufficient sample material for micro-diamond testing.\n\nCommenting today, Karelian chairman, Professor Richard Conroy, said: 'The\nsuccess of the first phase of our drilling programme on...