North Arrow Minerals Inc. (TSXV-NAR) is pleased to
report initial diamond recoveries from the first 70% (1,316 tonnes)
of a bulk sample collected in 2021 from the Q1-4 diamond deposit at
the Naujaat Diamond Project, Nunavut. Highlights of this
announcement include:
- 268 diamonds greater than +9 DTC
weighing 117.98 carats were recovered from 1,316 dry tonnes of
kimberlite from the A28 unit – the average size of diamonds
retained on the +9 DTC sieve is ~0.21 carats
- The three largest recovered
diamonds are 3.31, 3.07 and 2.76 carats
- 48 of the 268 diamonds (17.9%)
classify as fancy colour (20.9% by carat weight) – indicative of a
desirable and potentially high value diamond population
- 58% of the fancy diamonds classify
as either “intense” or “vivid” - the two highest colour saturation
classes and an important indicator of potential value in fancy
colour diamonds
- 91% of the fancy diamonds classify
with orange as the primary colour – orange is considered amongst
the rarest colours for natural diamonds
- +9 DTC sample grade of 9.0 cpht
(carats per hundred tonnes) compares favorably with a similar sized
sample collected from the same geological unit in 2014 (9.3
cpht)
- Processing of the remainder of the
2021 bulk sample, collected from the A88 unit, is ongoing.
Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow,
commented, “These initial diamond results from the 2021 bulk sample
confirm the presence of an important, potentially high value, fancy
orange and yellow diamond population in the Q1-4 kimberlite and add
significant confidence to past results. The significant proportion
of fancy colour diamonds in the sample is positive and will provide
important information needed to complete ongoing modelling of the
size distributions of fancy diamonds in the Q1-4 deposit and will
be used in an updated average diamond price estimate in due
course.”
Peter Ravenscroft, Managing Director and CEO of
Burgundy Diamond Mines Limited (ASX: BDM), North Arrow’s partner on
the project, added, “We are very pleased with the results so far of
this bulk sampling program, extremely well managed by our partners
at North Arrow. Initial indications are very promising, and we look
forward to completion of the processing and the subsequent analysis
of all results when available.”
The 2021 bulk sample consists of 2,500 sample
bags collected from three sample pits (Pits B, D, & E) at the
multiphase Q1-4 kimberlite, located just seven kilometres from the
project laydown near the Hamlet of Naujaat. The sample was divided
into five subsamples for processing purposes, including four
subsamples reported today: Pit B weathered kimberlite (296 bags),
Pit D weathered kimberlite (445 bags), Pit B rock (325 bags) and
Pit D rock (733 bags). All four subsamples are from the A28 unit of
Q1-4. Processing of the fifth and final subsample, collected from
the A88 unit (Pit E, 701 bags, approximately 280m southwest of Pit
D), is ongoing and will be reported when received.
Mr. Armstrong continued, “Diamond recoveries
reported today have been achieved using an X-Ray Transmission (XRT)
optical sorter, capable of recovering diamonds larger than 2mm. The
results are reported with a bottom sieve size of +9 DTC, which is
the smallest sieve size for which diamonds are detected and fully
recovered using the XRT. While this is a very coarse cut off for a
traditional evaluation sample, it meets the needs of the current
program.”
A summary of the +9 DTC diamond recoveries is
provided in the table below along with comparable results from the
2014 bulk sample collected from the A28 unit of Q1-4 (sample
A282014).
Sample |
Weight |
# Diamonds |
Carats |
Sample Grade |
Proportion Fancy Colours1 |
|
(Dry tonnes) |
(+9 DTC) |
(+9 DTC) |
(+9 DTC; cpht2) |
By Stones |
By Carats |
Pit B Wx |
219.5 |
46 |
17.91 |
8.2 |
21.7% |
13.1% |
Pit D Wx |
335.7 |
82 |
35.94 |
10.7 |
19.5% |
28.7% |
Pit D Rk |
521.2 |
98 |
48.43 |
9.3 |
12.2% |
14.2% |
Pit B Rk |
239.6 |
42 |
15.69 |
6.6 |
23.8% |
33.0% |
Total3 |
1,316.0 |
268 |
117.98 |
9.0 |
17.9% |
20.9% |
A2820144 |
1,353.3 |
336 |
126.26 |
9.3 |
11.0% |
11.9% |
1 Classification of fancy colour diamonds by Saskatchewan Research
Council using colour-grading scale established by the Gemological
Institute of America; For comparison purposes colour classification
of the 2014 sample is shown based on a non-standardized empirical
characterization of intense & dark yellow diamonds; 2 Carats
per hundred tonnes with bottom cut off of +9 DTC; 3 Totals
determined by arithmetic may differ due to rounding; 4 Initially
reported at a +1 DTC (~0.01 carat) bottom cut off in North Arrow
news release dated May 5, 2015. Restated here using a +9 DTC bottom
size cut off to more effectively compare to 2021 results. |
Combined diamond recoveries from the first four
2021 subsamples include 268 diamonds greater than +9 DTC weighing
117.98 carats from 1,316 dry tonnes of kimberlite for an overall +9
DTC sample grade of 9.0 cpht. Recovered diamonds include 33
diamonds larger than the 3 grainer size class (~0.66 carat) and 21
diamonds larger than 1 carat. The three largest diamonds are 3.31
carats (Fancy intense orange irregular cube aggregate), 3.07 carats
(Grey (boart) cubic aggregate), and 2.76 carats (off-white
irregular octahedral aggregate).
The purpose of the 2021 sample is to acquire
further information on the coarser sizes of the Q1-4 diamond
population, with particular emphasis on potential high value fancy
colour diamonds. As such, colour characterization studies of the
diamonds have been completed using the industry standard grading
scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Forty-eight of the 268 diamonds (17.9%) classify as fancy coloured
(20.9% by carat weight) with over 90% having orange as the primary
colour and 58% categorized as having either intense or vivid colour
saturations, the two highest colour saturations. The number of
diamonds in each fancy colour grade is provided below.
Fancy Colour |
Stone Count |
VividOrange |
13 |
Intense Orange |
15 |
Orange |
8 |
Light Orange |
8 |
Light Yellow |
1 |
Orange with brown tinge |
2 |
Light Orange with brownish tinge |
1 |
The GIA colour grading scale is the industry
standard for polished diamonds and, although colour grading of
rough diamonds is very similar to that of polished diamonds, there
is no universally accepted colour grading scheme for rough
diamonds. Colour grading of the Naujaat rough diamonds provides
useful information for modelling the fancy colour diamond
population. However, for individual rough diamonds, the graded
colour does not necessarily represent the final colour of a diamond
polished from the rough stone, nor does it include characterization
of a diamond’s clarity (e.g. presence of inclusions or cloudiness
in the diamond). Previous cutting and polishing of select Naujaat
rough fancy colour diamonds has produced fancy vivid orangey yellow
diamonds, certified by the GIA and demonstrating that the Q1-4
deposit can produce polished fancy colour diamonds for use in the
luxury jewelry market.
The $5.6M bulk sample program is being funded by
Burgundy as part of a June 1, 2020 option agreement under which
Burgundy may earn a 40% interest in the Naujaat Project by funding
the current bulk sample program. Further details on the collection
of the bulk sample can be found in North Arrow’s news release dated
August 19, 2021.
Diamond results reported in this release are
based on dense media separation (DMS) processing, X-Ray
Transmission (XRT) sensor-based diamond sorting, and diamond colour
grading work completed by the Saskatchewan Research Council’s
Geoanalytical Laboratories Diamond Services, Saskatoon, SK (SRC),
an independent diamond recovery laboratory. The sample was
processed through a DMS plant configured to recover diamonds
retained on a 0.85mm square mesh sieve. Kimberlite was fed directly
into the DMS plant with plus 50mm oversize material first crushed
to 30mm as required. All +12.5mm material was subsequently reduced
through a secondary cone crushing circuit and re-introduced into
the plant. Plus 0.85-12.5mm DMS concentrates were dewatered, dried,
and screened into -2mm, 2-4mm, 4-8mm and +8mm fractions. Dried +2mm
DMS concentrate fractions were passed through a TOMRA COM XRT
300/FR optical sorter, configured to detect and recover diamonds
greater than 2mm in size. XRT accepts (concentrates) were
transported to SRC’s secure sorting lab for diamond sorting,
cleaning, sieving and weighing in accordance with SRC handling
protocols. Audits of +2mm XRT rejects (tails), using grease table
and magnetic separation techniques, were completed on selected
fractions. Dried +0.85-2mm DMS concentrates have been stored for
future diamond recoveries, if and as required.
Quality assurance protocols, security and actual
operating procedures for the processing, transport and recovery of
diamonds conform to industry standard Chain of Custody provisions.
As part of ongoing QA/QC programs, DMS and XRT tails, sorted XRT
accepts, and other materials are subject to audit. Any significant
changes in recovered diamond contents will be reported when
available.
North Arrow’s diamond exploration programs are
conducted under the direction of Kenneth Armstrong, P.Geo.
(NWT/NU), President and CEO of North Arrow and a Qualified Person
under NI 43-101. Mr. Armstrong has reviewed the contents of this
press release.
About North Arrow Minerals
North Arrow is a Canadian based exploration
company focused on the identification and evaluation of diamond
exploration opportunities in Canada. North Arrow’s management,
board of directors and advisors have significant successful
experience in the global diamond industry. North Arrow’s most
advanced diamond project is the Q1-4 diamond deposit at the Naujaat
Project (NU), where a $5.6M 2,000 tonne bulk sample is currently
undergoing final processing and diamond recovery. North Arrow has
also discovered and is evaluating diamond bearing kimberlites at
the Pikoo (SK), Mel (NU), Loki (NWT) and LDG JV Projects (NWT).
North Arrow also maintains a 100% interest in the Hope Bay Oro Gold
Project (NU), located approximately 3 km north of Agnico Eagle’s
Doris Gold Mine.
North Arrow Minerals Inc.
/s/ “Kenneth A. Armstrong”Kenneth
ArmstrongPresident and CEO
For further information, please contact:Ken
Armstrong Tel: 604-668-8355 or 604-668-8354Website:
www.northarrowminerals.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains "forward-looking
statements" including but not limited to statements with respect to
North Arrow’s plans, the estimation of a mineral resource and the
success of exploration activities. Forward-looking statements,
while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are
subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks
related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks
related to general economic and market conditions; closing of
financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual
results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in
mineral resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes,
title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and
other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local
government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and
regulations. Although North Arrow has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. North Arrow undertakes no
obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements,
except as required by law.
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