REG-Karelian Diamond Resources Plc: Electron Microprobe Analysis of Kimberlitic Garnets

Karelian Diamond ResourcesAnnouncement

09/04/2024 07:15

    9 April 2024


 

Karelian Diamond Resources PLC

("Karelian Diamonds" or "the Company")

 

RESULTS OF ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS OF KIMBERLITIC GARNETS

 
* Electron Microprobe Analysis of Kimberlitic Garnets from Till Samples
 
* Results indicate very close proximity to source of the Green Diamond
previously discovered by the Company
 

Karelian Diamond Resources PLC ("Karelian Diamonds") (AIM: KDR) is pleased to
announce results of Electron Microprobe Analysis of Kimberlitic garnets from
till samples taken from sample locations up-ice of the location of the
previous discovery of a green diamond by the Company. The results indicate the
presence of a diamond stability field and, in turn, the presence of diamond
bearing kimberlite likely to be the source of the diamond.

Discovery of the source of the green diamond could be particularly significant
as coloured diamonds, including green diamonds, sell for prices which can be
multiples of those for clear colourless diamonds.

Sixty garnets from a series of locations were submitted to Renaud Geological
Consulting Ltd in Canada for detailed Electron Microprobe Analysis, having
been picked from till samples by Overburden Drilling Management Limited
("ODM") (as announced by the Company on 19 December 2023).

The Microprobe analysis resulted in the identification of nineteen G10
(harzburgitic), nineteen G9 (lherzolitic), fifteen G5 (pyroxenitic) and seven
G4 (eclogitic) garnets. The presence of diamond stability field garnets (G10D)
and other diamond-facies garnets (G4D and G5D) is a clear indicator of the
diamond potential of the Kuhmo target area. (See Table 1).

                Eclogitic                         Peridotitic                       Pyroxenitic     TOTAL                   Diamond facies                                                                                     
 Sample number  G4 Low-Ca Eclogitic/ Pyroxenitic  G10 Harzburgitic  G9 Lherzolitic  G5 Pyroxenitic  Analysed garnets total  G10D (inside the Diamond Stability Field)  G4D (Na 2 O ≥ 0,07 wt-%)    G5D (Na 2 O ≥ 0,07 wt-%)    
 A5-23-01       1                                 9                 3               4               17                      2                                          1                                                       
 A5-23-02                                                           2               1               3                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-03       3                                 7                 6               7               23                      1                                                                      5                           
 A5-23-07                                         1                 1                               2                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-09       1                                 1                 2               1               5                                                                  1                           1                           
 A5-23-09B                                        1                                                 1                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-17                                                           1                               1                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-19                                                           1                               1                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-21       1                                                                                   1                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-23       1                                                   1                               2                                                                  1                                                       
 A5-23-25                                                           1               1               2                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-29                                                           1                               1                                                                                                                          
 A5-23-32                                                                           1               1                                                                                                                          
 Total          7                                 19                19              15              60                      3                                          3                           6                           

 

Table 1: Classification of results of electron microprobe analysis.

The table shows the total numbers of garnets recovered from each of the
locations tested and the related diamond facies.

Further confirmation that the sample material was derived from the diamond
stability field of the Earth's mantle is shown in a conventional CaO versus
Cr2O3 contents plot for the sixty garnets analysed. (See Figure 1).

 


Figure 1: Conventional diagram of CaO versus Cr2O3 contents (wt.%) of the 60
garnets recovered from Kuhmo Green Diamond Target sampling, with G-number
classification (from Grütter et al, 2004).

The discovery of the green diamond down-ice, together with the abundance of
G10 harzburgitic garnets, including G10D's, and the presence of eclogitic G4
garnets, including G4D's, and pyroxenitic G5D garnets, all indicate a
deep-mantle source for kimberlite originating from the diamond stability field
where diamonds are formed.

The results indicate that two of the sample locations (A5-23-01 and A5-23-03)
are likely to be very close to the kimberlitic source of the green diamond.

This release has been approved by Andrew Murrells PGeo, who is a member of the
Company's technical staff and holds a BSc in Geological and Earth
Sciences/Geosciences NA1  (#_cmnt1), in accordance with the guidance note for
Mining, Oil & Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in respect of
AIM Companies, which outlines standards of disclosure for mineral
projects.  

Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman of Karelian Diamond Resources PLC
commented:

"These results are a further and very important step forward in bringing to a
successful conclusion the search for the origin of the green diamond
discovered by the Company in the Kuhmo region of Finland." 

 

Note: The microprobe used for the electron microprobe analysis was a JEOL
JXA-733 Superprobe equipped with 5 wavelength dispersive spectrometers (WDS)
and an Oxford Instruments X-act energy dispersive system (EDS).  Samples were
run at 15KV, beam current 15na, beam diameter of 5um.  Count times for major
elements were 20s on peak and 10s on each side of the peak for background
measurements. For trace elements, both peak and background times were 40s. 
For calibration a set of microbeam standards of pure metals (from SPI) and
natural minerals from the Smithsonian Institution were utilized (Jarosewich,
2002). Data reduction was performed using the ZAF correction.

 

Further Information:

 Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman                                +353-1-479-6180   
 Allenby Capital Limited (Nomad) Nick Athanas / Nick Harriss       +44-20-3328-5656  
 Peterhouse Capital Limited (Broker) Lucy Williams / Duncan Vasey  +44-20-7469-0930  
 Lothbury Financial Services Michael Padley                        +44-20-3290-0707  
 Hall Communications Don Hall                                      +353-1-660-9377   

 

http://www.kareliandiamondresources.com

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