Diamond Fields International Ltd. has released the preliminary results from exploration on its properties in Greenland during the 2004 season. On the 63,7370-hectare Ammassalik project, fieldwork included a 2,000-line-kilometre airborne mag-EM survey completed in July, geological mapping and collection of 390 rock samples. High-grade scree boulder and outcrop grab samples ranging from 0.5 per cent to greater than 1 per cent nickel (Ni) were collected in the southern part of the property within a 1.5-kilometre radius of the initial discovery showing. In addition, a new area of extended nickel mineralization ranging from 0.1 per cent nickel to greater than 1 per cent nickel over a 3.5-kilometre strike length in scree boulders and outcrop has been defined in the southeastern part of Diamond Fields’ ground.
The company is conducting an in depth analysis of the Ammassalik project geochemical results in conjunction with the airborne survey to define coincident anomalies and to outline lookalike geophysical targets in areas not yet sampled. Nassutooq results will be compiled on the recent geological mapping of the area in an attempt to constrain further work to the most prospective horizons. A final interpretation of the summer’s exploration results is expected in late January, 2005.
On the west coast, exploration on the 84,600-hectare Nassuttooq property delineated a five-kilometre-long zone of alteration within mafic volcanic rocks and discovered several outcroppings of massive sulphides. Analytical results include nickel in the range of 0.1 per cent nickel to 0.3 per cent nickel, and copper (Cu) in concentrations from 0.1 per cent copper to 0.4 per cent copper (not coincident) in samples from outcrop and scree boulders within the alteration envelope.
Diamond Fields’ east and west coast Greenland properties cover supracrustal rocks including mafic volcanics and komatiites of the Nagssugtoqidian Orogen believed to represent the eastward extension of the Trans-Hudson Orogen, setting of the komatiite hosted Thompson-Nickel deposits in Manitoba.
Crushing and geochemical analysis of the rock samples were carried out by ALS Chemex Ltd., Mississauga, Ont., Canada (www.alschemex.com). All samples were processed using ICP methods. Randal Cullen, PGeo, chief geologist for Diamond Fields International Ltd., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and is responsible for program design and quality control of exploration undertaken by Diamond Fields.
With respect to Diamond Fields Namibian marine diamond concessions, the company’s plans to refurbish the DF Discoverer and resume mining are on schedule for March, 2005, which will give Diamond Fields 100 per cent of diamonds mined. The company is also considering the possibility of recommencing mining prior to this date with a contract vessel, but it is no longer continuing further joint venture discussions which would give up a portion of Diamond Fields’ diamonds.
In West Africa, Diamond Fields is evaluating the possibility of developing an alluvial diamond mining operation on its Rainbow licence on the Mano River, Sierra Leone where recovery of high-value coloured diamonds has been reported from local artisinal mining. The operation being considered would be based on pumping gravel from the river bed to a barge mounted diamond recovery plant, similar to operations currently under way in Angola. Also in Sierra Leone, after undertaking reconnaissance level stream sediment sampling for diamond indicator minerals the company has decided to relinquish its rights to further tenure over the Foindu, Nomo and Kambia West properties to focus its resources on the more promising Rainbow licence. The company has shifted its kimberlite search to the Liberian portion of the Guinea craton where several kimberlite pipes have been discovered on a property adjacent to Diamond Fields’ Ducor joint venture ground.
