Stellar Diamonds said the on-going bulk sampling at its 1.1 million carat resource Tongo kimberlite dyke project in Sierra Leone continues to yield high grades and “exceptional” quality diamonds.
It said in a statement that it had so far recovered 551.6 carats at an average grade of 126.3 carats per hundred tonnes, which was higher than the estimated grade 120 carats per hundred tonnes.
Stellar said a number of ‘outstanding’ gem quality diamonds had been uncovered with stones up to 6.7 carats in size.
“The results from the on-going bulk sampling programme are excellent and continue to underscore the high grade nature of the Tongo Dyke-1 kimberlite,” said company chief executive Karl Smithson.
“The presence of larger gem stones up to 6.7 carats in size bodes well for the diamond valuation, which will be undertaken as part of the definitive feasibility study that is on track for delivery towards the end of 2014.”
He said their bulk sampling programme would continue with the objective of recovering a parcel of at least 1,000 carats for diamond grade and value modelling on the current 1.1 million carat JORC compliant resource, calculated on one of four diamondiferous dykes on the project.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
