Arctic Star's Sequoia Kimberlite Shows Promise with Diamond Indicator Results
Vancouver, British Columbia -- September 9th, 2021 -- NewsGenie -- Arctic Star Exploration Corp. (TSXV:ADD) has announced encouraging diamond indicator mineral results from the first hole into the Sequoia Kimberlite complex. Analysis by Chuck Fipke's C.F. Minerals research lab reveals indicator types associated with diamonds, suggesting their presence. Notably, indicator minerals share identical chemistry with inclusions found in large >50 carat diamonds worldwide. Different kimberlite types display starkly different indicators, aligning with caustic diamond results that show varying stone/kg counts and hints at a coarse diamond distribution.
Kimberlite core samples were analyzed at C.F. Mineral Research Ltd., a facility led by Ekati diamond mine co-founder Chuck Fipke. The process involved crushing, heavy mineral separation, magnetic separation, mineral selection, SEM scanning, and electron microprobe assays.
Fipke reported that volcanoclastic samples are dominated by diamond inclusion minerals found in Lherzolite and chromite-rich harzburgite, similar to those in large diamonds from Ekati, Letseng, Victor, and Lucara’s Karowe Mine. The Sequoia kimberlite has also sampled diamond-bearing chromite harzburgite. In contrast, the coherent kimberlite sample has abundant Group 1 eclogitic garnets and large diamond inclusion lherzolite minerals. Fipke noted that the abundance of large diamond inclusion minerals exceeds that of other diamond-bearing kimberlites in their database.
Buddy Doyle, VP Exploration for Arctic Star, commented on the coarser diamond distribution suggested by caustic fusion microdiamond results. The company plans further drilling to define kimberlite volumes and caustic fusion diamond distribution, followed by a bulk sample to confirm diamond distribution. Further caustic fusion samples would narrow down this spread. It is desirable to have several commercial size stones from caustic fusion before predicting grade and size distribution with great accuracy.
