North Arrow Minerals Inc. (TSXV-NAR) is pleased to
report final diamond recoveries from a 1,823.6 dry tonne bulk
sample collected in 2021 from the Q1-4 diamond deposit at the
Naujaat Diamond Project, Nunavut. Today’s results, representing the
final 30% (498 dry tonnes) of the bulk sample, are entirely from
the A88 unit of the Q1-4 deposit and follow results from the
initial 70% (1,326 dry tonnes) of the sample that were previously
reported on April 26 2022. Highlights of today’s results include:
- The A88 bulk sample
recovered 99 diamonds greater than +9 DTC weighing
55.80 carats from 498 dry tonnes
- 7.00, 2.17, and 2.02
carats – The three largest recovered diamonds
- 7.00 carat stone -
the largest diamond recovered to date from the Q1-4 diamond
deposit
- 10.1% fancy colour
diamonds - 10 of 99 diamonds classify as fancy colour
diamonds (12.8% by carat weight)
- 30% of 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
- 90% 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 11.2
cpht (carats per hundred tonnes) - compares favorably with
a smaller sample collected from the same geological unit in 2017
(11.2 cpht)
Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow,
commented, “The 2021 bulk sample has confirmed the presence of an
important, potentially high value population of fancy orange and
yellow diamonds in both the A28 and A88 units of the Q1-4 diamond
deposit. This is highly encouraging, as is the recovery of a seven
carat diamond - the largest stone recovered to date from the Q1-4
deposit and, although it classifies as boart, an indication of the
potential of Q1-4 to produce larger diamonds. Next steps in our
ongoing evaluation will include modelling of the size distributions
of the fancy diamonds, as well as consideration of options for test
cutting and polishing the fancy colour diamonds to better
understand the colour characteristics of the final, polished
diamonds, and their potential for enhanced value in the creation of
luxury jewelry.”
Peter Ravenscroft, Managing Director and CEO of
Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd, commented, “The completion of sample
processing and diamond recovery from the 2021 bulk sample has
further confirmed the presence of a potentially high value, fancy
orange and yellow diamond population in the Q1-4 kimberlite.”
The 2021 bulk sample consists of 2,500 sample
bags (1,823.6 dry tonnes) 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.
The new results reported today are from 498 dry tonnes (701 bags)
collected from the A88 unit (Pit E, approximately 280m southwest of
Pit D). Results from the first four subsamples from Pits B and D
within the A28 unit (1,316 dry tonnes), were reported on April 26
2022.
Diamond results are reported with a bottom sieve
size of +9 DTC, which is currently the smallest sieve size for
which diamonds are detected and fully recovered using X-Ray
transmission (XRT) optical sorting technology. A summary of the +9
DTC diamond recoveries from the 2021 samples collected from the A88
(A882021) and A28 (A282021) units is provided in the table below
along with comparable results from a 183 tonne sample collected
from A88 in 2017.
Year |
Sample |
Weight |
# Diamonds |
Carats |
Sample Grade |
Proportion Fancy Colours1 |
|
|
(Dry tonnes) |
(+9 DTC) |
(+9 DTC) |
(+9 DTC; cpht2) |
By Stones |
By Carats |
2021 |
A882021 |
497.6 |
99 |
55.80 |
11.2 |
10.1% |
12.8% |
2017 |
Pit C2 & C33 |
182.8 |
43 |
20.52 |
11.2 |
11.6% |
5.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
A2820214 |
1326.0 |
268 |
117.98 |
9.0 |
17.9% |
20.9% |
|
1Classification of fancy colour diamonds reported by Saskatchewan
Research Council (SRC) using colour-grading scale established by
the Gemological Institute of America;2Carats per hundred tonnes
with bottom cut off of +9 DTC;3Initially reported at a +1 DTC
(~0.01 carat) bottom cut off in North Arrow news release
dated Feb. 28, 2018 and restated here using a +9 DTC
bottom size cut off to more effectively compare to 2021
results.4Previously reported in North Arrow news release
dated April 26 2022. |
Diamond recoveries reported today from the 2021
Pit E sample (A882021) include 99 diamonds greater than +9 DTC
weighing 55.80 carats from 497.6 dry tonnes of kimberlite for an
overall +9 DTC sample grade of 11.2 cpht. Recovered diamonds
include 21 diamonds larger than the 3 grainer size class (~0.66
carat) and 13 diamonds larger than 1 carat. The three largest
diamonds are 7.00 carats (Irregular (polycrystalline), grey,
opaque), 2.17 carats (fancy light orange, irregular (fragment),
translucent, moderate inclusions), and 2.02 carats (Off white (H
colour) aggregate, transparent, minor inclusions).
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).
For A882021, 10 of the 99 diamonds (10.1%) classify as fancy colour
(12.8% by carat weight) with 9 of the fancy colour diamonds (90%)
having orange as the primary colour and 3 diamonds (30%)
categorized as having either intense or vivid colour saturations.
The number of diamonds in each fancy colour grade is provided
below.
Fancy Colour |
Stone Count |
Vivid Orange |
1 |
Intense Orange |
1 |
Orange |
2 |
Light Orange |
3 |
Light Yellow |
1 |
Intense Orange with brown tinge |
1 |
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 or absence 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 the
terms of which, with completion of the bulk sample program,
Burgundy will earn a 40% interest in the Naujaat Project. 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 (later plus 30mm) 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 has recently
completed 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.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/13b395b9-52f8-4d6f-a37d-6a7fe7535e9f
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