Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Exceptional Kelvin diamond grades continue

Kennady Diamonds Inc. Dec. 17 reported that a 930-kilogram sample recovered by core drilling at the Kelvin North Lobe kimberlite at its Kennady North project in Northwest Territories returned 3.55 carats per metric ton for diamonds of commercial size. The sample was processed by caustic fusion at the Geoanalytical Laboratories Diamond Services of the Saskatchewan Research Council. “Kelvin North Lobe drill samples continue to return outstanding diamond recovery results,” Kennady Diamonds President and CEO Patrick Evans said. “Over the course of 2015, we have processed by caustic fusion a total of 14.7 metric tons of core samples from the Kelvin North Lobe, which have returned an average sample grade of 2.83 carats per metric ton. These correspond well with a December 2014 North Lobe mini-bulk sample processed by dense media separation at the SRC, which returned a grade of 2.59 cpt.” The three largest diamonds recovered from the latest Kelvin North Lobe sample are described as: 0.67 carat off-white, transparent broken octahedron with minor inclusions; 0.23 carat off-white, transparent broken octahedron with inclusions; and 0.15 carat white/colorless, transparent fragment with minor inclusions. “Diamond breakage during core drilling is common. At the end of bulk sampling programs we conduct diamond breakage studies to factor breakage into our diamond price modeling,” Evans said. A maiden Kelvin resource statement is expected to be released in early 2016. Results from additional samples recovered from Kelvin North Lobe, Faraday 1 and Faraday 2 kimberlites are also due to be released early next year. Evans added, “Planning is now well underway to recover an approximate 500-metric-ton bulk sample from the North Lobe in February/March next year, with results expected by mid-2016. The bulk sample is expected to deliver more than 1,200 carats to support revenue modeling for the Kelvin kimberlite.”

- Shane Lasley