Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Q1-4 yields 21.5% yellow diamonds

North Arrow Minerals Inc. May 5 reported final diamond recoveries from a bulk sample collected from the Q1-4 kimberlite at the Qilalugaq Diamond Project bulk sample in Nunavut. Diamond recoveries from the sample include 11,083 diamonds greater than +1 DTC (roughly 1 millimeter) weighing 384.28 carats from 1,353.37 dry metric tons of kimberlite for an overall sample grade of 28.4 carats per hundred metric tons. The recovered diamonds include 30 larger than three grainer (roughly 0.6 carats) and 15 larger than 1 carat. Yellow diamonds comprise roughly 9 percent by stone count and 21.5 percent by carat weight of the +1 DTC diamonds recovered to date. The three largest diamonds recovered remain the 4.42-, 4.16-, and 3.53-carat diamonds reported in February. The diamonds will now undergo valuation in Antwerp Belgium. “The purpose of the valuation will be to provide an indication of the value of the diamonds hosted within the Q1-4 kimberlite, and, if positive, could provide the basis for a preliminary economic assessment of a potential mine development at the Qilalugaq Project,” said North Arrow CEO Ken Armstrong. North Arrow is earning an 80 percent interest in the Qilalugaq Diamond Project from Stornoway Diamonds Corp., subject to a one-time back-in right held by Stornoway, by collecting and processing the current bulk sample.

- Shane Lasley