Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Q1-4 yellow diamonds in rare class

North Arrow Minerals Inc. April 21 reported that yellow diamonds recovered from the Q1-4 kimberlite at the Qilalugaq Project in Nunavut contain un-aggregated nitrogen, a defining characteristic of rare Type Ib diamonds with fancy “Canary Yellow” colors. Type Ib diamonds are exceptionally rare. “In fact, less than 1 percent of more than 24,000 fancy yellow diamonds investigated by the Gemological Institute of America as part of a 2005 study were classified as Type Ib diamonds, indicating that Type Ib diamonds are rare, even among natural fancy yellow diamonds,” explained North Arrow President and CEO Ken Armstrong. “This rarity highlights the significance of today’s result: all but one of the analyzed Q1-4 yellow diamonds contain un-aggregated nitrogen, and yellow diamonds make up over 21 percent, by carat weight, of the diamonds recovered so far from the Q1-4 bulk sample.” These findings are based on Fourier Transform Infrared analyses of 41 representative yellow diamonds from the Q1-4 kimberlite. Un-aggregated nitrogen occurs as single, randomly distributed nitrogen atoms and strongly absorbs blue and violet light. As a result of this strong absorption, even relatively minor amounts of un-aggregated nitrogen can lead to intense yellow colors commonly referred to as “Canary Yellow” in the gem trade. “While all of the yellow diamonds recovered from the Q1-4 kimberlite will not qualify as fancy yellow colors, it is extremely unusual to have such a high proportion of diamonds tested from one locality report as Type Ib diamonds, and this is important information to have in advance of the upcoming Q1-4 diamond valuation process,” said Armstrong. North Arrow also reported that the final processing and diamond sorting of the Q1-4 bulk sample is on track for completion in late April with a formal valuation of the diamond parcel to be conducted shortly thereafter. North Arrow is working to earn an 80 percent interest in the Qilalugaq diamond project from Stornoway Diamond Corp., subject to a one-time back-in right of that company, by collecting and processing the current bulk sample.

- Shane Lasley