Business
Sampling Results
Sampling Results.
About this update from Karelian Diamond Resources Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n 31 March 2009\n\n Karelian Diamond Resources plc \n (\"Karelian Diamond Resources\" or \"the Company\") \n\n Sampling Results \n\n * Latest micro-diamond results at Seitaperä return one positive outcome\n \n * Full mineralogical study indicates variable micro-diamond distribution with\n extensive stone breakage during processing\n \n * Company is proceeding with evaluation and claim applications in Finland\n despite diamond market downturn\n \nKarelian Diamond Resources (AIM:KDR), is pleased to announce results from\nmicro-diamond testing of material extracted during the recent drilling\nprogramme on its Seitaperä diamondiferous kimberlite pipe in the Kuhmo region\nof Finland. A total of 700 kg of material was extracted from which four\ncomposite samples, each of 50 kg, have been tested to date.\n\nOne of these samples returned a positive micro-diamond result, yielding a white\ntranslucent fragment measuring 0.20x0.17x0.06 mm, a white translucent fragment\nmeasuring 0.20x0.14x0.03 mm and a white translucent octahedral showing 99 per\ncent. preservation measuring 0.12x0.11x0.11 mm. The other three samples tested\ndid not contain micro-diamonds.\n\nA full mineralogical study of all the Seitaperä diamonds recovered to date,\nincluding the 67 micro and macro-diamonds recovered from a 100.20 kg sample as\nreported in July 2008, has now been completed by MCC Geoscience of Vancouver,\nCanada. This indicates that the grade distribution in the Seitaperä Kimberlite\nis likely to be highly variable, a feature common to the diatreme root zones of\nmany kimberlites. It is not possible to estimate an overall bulk diamond grade\nat this point.\n\nAn investigation of diamond surface characteristics carried out as part of the\nstudy indicated that a substantial proportion (approximately 60 per cent.) of\nthe micro-diamonds recovered are in fact fragments of a larger diamond or\ndiamonds which were present in the mantle xenoliths and broke apart during\nprocessing. The majority of diamonds underwent only limited resorbtion (the\nprocess by which, due to heat and pressure, diamonds can be absorbed into host\nmagma) and were well-preserved within their mantle host. As such, diamonds in\nSeitaperä are sparsely and irregularly distributed, but follow a relatively\ncoarse size distribution.\n\nThese findings suggest that there is the potent...