Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksStellar Diamonds Regulatory News (STEL)

  • There is currently no data for STEL

Droujba Kimberlite Pipe Update

13 Apr 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 7982E
Stellar Diamonds PLC
13 April 2011
 



 

 

 

 

 

 

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISSEMINATION TO US NEWS WIRE SERVICES.

 

13 April 2011

 

AIM: STEL

Stellar Diamonds plc

("Stellar" or the "Company")

 

Encouraging drilling results from the Droujba kimberlite pipe in Guinea

 

 

Stellar Diamonds plc, the London listed (AIM:STEL) diamond mining and exploration company focused on West Africa, is pleased to provide an update on the drilling programme at the Company's 100% owned Droujba kimberlite pipe in south east Guinea.

 

Highlights:

 

·; Phase-1 programme completed with 18 holes for a total of 3,031 metres drilled

·; Surface area of pipe delineated at 3 hectares

·; Deepest kimberlite intersection to date of 222m from surface and remains open at depth

·; New blind discovery associated with geophysical anomaly intersected to southeast and west of main pipe

·; Microdiamond analysis results from third sample batch expected shortly

·; 3,000m Phase-2 drilling programme underway at Droujba with 10 holes planned

 

Karl Smithson, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"The Phase-1 drilling programme at Droujba has been a complete success. We have delineated the main pipe at 3 hectares close to surface and the initial microdiamond results have been excellent. The drilling has also discovered two adjacent sub-surface kimberlite intrusions that are associated with geophysical anomalies. The preliminary 3D geological model suggests that the kimberlite has significant tonnage potential and our drilling programme over the next few months will entail deeper drilling to more accurately delineate the pipe and its internal geology between 120m and 250m depth.

"We expect additional microdiamond results in the near future and will be submitting more material to the laboratory in Canada for further diamond analysis. The microdiamond results received to date are very encouraging and suggest that the hypabyssal kimberlite sampled is significantly diamondiferous. We will shortly be mobilising a processing plant to Droujba and establishing it with a view to bulk sampling of the kimberlite pipe and other proximal kimberlite intrusions.

 

"I look forward to updating shareholders on the continued progress at Droujba in Guinea over the coming weeks and months."

 

Drilling Programme

The first phase of drilling, comprising 18 holes for 3,031m, was recently completed after which the programme extended into the second, deeper phase of drilling. These holes were primarily drilled to ascertain geological information of the main Droujba pipe which partly lies beneath a 20m deep flooded pit created during previous mining in the 1960's by the Russian Aid Mission.

 

The kimberlite pipe was intersected in most holes, with the deepest intersection to date being at 222m vertical depth from surface. The pipe is interpreted as being comprised of two main geological units, a core of hypabyssal kimberlite and associated dykes that have intruded an earlier kimberlite that created a breccia with varying kimberlite content. The surface area of the pipe has been delineated at 3 hectares, which is approximately three times the size previously reported by the Russian Aid Mission.

 

Two new sub-surface kimberlite intrusions were also intersected to the southeast and west, but adjacent to the main Droujba pipe. These intrusions are associated with strong geophysical anomalies. It is not yet known whether these intrusions coalesce with the main pipe at depth but they do form significant additions to the tonnage potential of the resource. Further drilling will be aimed at determining the relationship and depth extensions to these new bodies as well as the main pipe as part of the Phase-2 programme. The objective is to delineate the kimberlite resource to a depth of up to 250m.

 

Geological Model

Datamine South Africa has been retained to input the drill log information and generate a three dimensional geological model for the Droujba kimberlite. This process is ongoing and the model will be refined as further drill hole information becomes available.

 

Microdiamond Analysis

Two samples of kimberlite were recently submitted to the Saskatchewan Research Council laboratory in Canada ("SRC") for microdiamond analysis. These samples comprised 67.60kg of hypabyssal kimberlite from the main pipe and 136.55kg from the south east sub-surface kimberlite intrusion. The smaller sample is designed to complement previous results from the hypabyssal unit of the main pipe, which yielded 490 diamonds from 197kg of kimberlite. The larger sample was submitted to determine whether the diamond content of the hypabyssal kimberlite of the south east intrusion is significantly different from the main pipe. The results from this are expected to be available in the near future.

 

About Stellar Diamonds plc

Stellar is a London (AIM: STEL) listed diamond mining and exploration company that has a portfolio of projects in West Africa.

 

Stellar owns a 100% interest in four high-grade kimberlite projects that are the focus of exploration and development. In Sierra Leone at the Tongo project a bulk sampling programme is ongoing on one key kimberlite to assess the diamond grade and value. At the Kono further bulk sampling is planned on a key kimberlite target. Previous underground trial mining by the Company produced 4,200 carats as part of an economic evaluation exercise before being placed on care and maintenance during the financial crisis. In Guinea drilling is continuing on the diamondiferous Droujba kimberlite pipe and bulk sampling is continuing on the high grade Bouro kimberlite dyke, which is adjacent to the Company's Mandala alluvial diamond operation, and where the first bulk sample result returned a grade of 243cpht.

 

For further information please contact the following or visit the Company's website at www.stellar-diamonds.com.

 

In accordance with the AIM Rules, the information in this announcement has been reviewed by Karl Smithson, CEO of Stellar, a qualified geologist with 22 years' experience.

 

Stellar Diamonds plc

Karl Smithson, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0) 7783 707971

 

Northland Capital Partners Limited

Gavin Burnell, Edward Hutton

Charles Vaughan Tel: +44 (0) 20 7492 4750

 

Daniel Stewart & Company plc

Martin Lampshire, Oliver Rigby Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 6550

 

Pelham Bell Pottinger

Charles Vivian / James MacFarlane Tel: +44 (0) 20 7861 3232

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
DRLITMRTMBBBBPB
Date   Source Headline
12th Nov 20159:30 amRNSUnsecured Bridge Loan
9th Nov 20157:00 amRNSSierra Leone Declared Ebola-Free
2nd Nov 20157:00 amRNSCapital Reorganisation
24th Aug 20157:00 amRNSTongo Project PEA & Mining Licence Application
14th Aug 20157:00 amRNSIssue of Convertible Loan Note & Grant of Warrants
28th May 20157:00 amRNSStrong Revenues from Baoule Diamond Auction
7th May 20157:00 amRNSBaoule Diamond Sale
20th Apr 20157:00 amRNSFirst 5,000 Carats Achieved at Baoulé Kimberlite
1st Apr 20157:00 amRNSApplication for Mining Licence at Tongo Project
27th Mar 20157:00 amRNSInterim Results
24th Mar 20157:00 amRNSMaiden Diamond Sale and Revenues
27th Feb 20157:00 amRNSDiamond Tender
18th Feb 20157:00 amRNSAnnual Report and Update
26th Jan 20157:00 amRNSDirector's Dealing
22nd Jan 20157:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
8th Jan 20159:27 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
6th Jan 20157:00 amRNSProgress Update on Trial Mining at Baoulé
5th Jan 20154:08 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
10th Dec 20144:03 pmRNSChange of Adviser
9th Dec 20142:30 pmRNSLoan Facility
8th Dec 20144:30 pmRNSResult of AGM
4th Dec 20147:00 amRNSFirst Diamond Export from Trial Mining at Baoulé
3rd Dec 20147:00 amRNSPositive Study for Acceleration of Cash Flows
28th Nov 20147:00 amRNSSignificant Increase in Resource & Diamond Grade
13th Nov 20147:00 amRNSFinal Results and Notice of AGM
31st Oct 20147:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Oct 201410:58 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
21st Oct 20147:00 amRNSLarge Diamonds Recovered from Trial Mining, Baoule
16th Oct 20147:00 amRNSShare Subscription and Issue of Warrants
9th Oct 20147:00 amRNSFirst Diamonds from Trial Mining at Baoulé Project
30th Sep 20147:00 amRNSBoard Changes
11th Sep 20147:00 amRNSCommissioning of Diamond Processing Plant
19th Aug 20147:00 amRNSExcellent bulk Sample Grade from Tongo Project
11th Aug 20147:00 amRNSProgress Update on Baoulé Kimberlite in Guinea
28th Jul 201410:33 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
18th Jul 20147:00 amRNSDirector Dealing
15th Jul 20147:00 amRNSDiamond Bulk Sample Grades Exceed 150cpht at Tongo
3rd Jul 20149:07 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
3rd Jul 20147:00 amRNSDirector Dealing
20th Jun 20144:41 pmRNSDirector Dealing
20th Jun 20141:45 pmRNSUpdated Corporate Presentation
13th Jun 201412:48 pmRNSGrant of Share Options
3rd Jun 20147:00 amRNSFast-Tracking of Baoule Project to Trial Mining
30th May 20148:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
21st May 20143:51 pmRNSDelay in Admission
14th May 20147:00 amRNSDiamond Grades Increased at Tongo Project
8th May 20147:00 amRNSGBP1.85M Placing
20th Mar 20147:00 amRNSInterim Results
19th Mar 20147:00 amRNSInterim Results Release Date and Investor Evening
18th Mar 20147:00 amRNSContinued High Grade and Diamond Quality at Tongo

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.