RAPAPORT... Stellar Diamonds began its initial bulk sampling project at the Katcha dyke, part of the Droujba project in Guinea. Processing of the first 92 tonnes yielded 173 carats of rough diamonds at an average grade of 188 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht). The largest gem-quality diamond to be recovered so far weighed 5.55 carats. Karl Smithson, the junior explorer's chief executive, said that the bulk sampling rate of 188 cpht was ''significantly higher'' than the 100 cpht anticipated. ''Based on these initial results and the previous drilling undertaken at Katcha by the company, Stellar intends to bring a section of the 5 kilometer long dyke into the inferred resource category, to complement the 2.5 million carats already confirmed as an inferred resource at the nearby Droujba pipe.'' Bulk sample processing is ongoing at Droujba and Stellar Diamonds expects to upgrade the global project resource, including both the pipe and the Katcha dyke, in the fourth quarter, prior to conducting a pre-feasibility study to analyze the economic potential for an open pit mine.
|