MicroDiamonds
A highly-weathered 10.06 kg rock sample recovered from the North Kimberley Diamond Project in Western Australia's northern region collected in December 2017 contained three micro-diamonds, one grey and two yellow. Owned 100 percent by Lithoquest Diamonds Inc., their specific target 0702 ironically had the objective of extracting kimberlite indicator minerals and not diamonds. There were six samples, and the other five had no micro-diamonds or kimberlite indicator minerals.
The results of the micro-diamond sample were obtained from the independent laboratory, Diamond Recovery Services Pty Ltd. in Perth, after the sample was very carefully transported to the laboratory under dual custody and with security seals applied that were intact upon arrival.
The laboratory uses a traditional recovery process that involves caustic fusion and heavy liquid separation that liberates and recovers the sought-after kimberlite indicator minerals and signs of diamonds being present in the samples. Grains that cannot be identified positively during the observation are submitted to the Advanced Characterization Facility at the Australian Resources and Research Centre.
Lithoquest, a Canadian company that conducts diamond exploration, focuses on the discovery of economic diamond deposits and also the their development. Its North Kimberley Diamond Project is approximately 65km east of Kalumburu. The Project is a contiguous land parcel that covers an area more than 100,000 Ha in size, which can be accessed by road, and which has already produced two diamond deposits. Past explorations in the area produced gem-quality macro diamonds in documented stream samples, which included a 1.73 carat diamond.
Preliminary work and samplings conducted in 2007 and 2017 have resulted in compelling evidence that there will continue to be new and exciting discoveries. The chemical composition of recovered indicator minerals from the rocks indicates that conditions are favorable for the formation and preservation of diamonds.
The extraordinary discovery of the current sample was given confirmation by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Bruce Counts, CEO and President of Lithoquest, stated that it was proof that their “target 0702” has rocks that bear diamonds. The company looks forward to the 2018 field program which is expected to commence in the second quarter of the year. It will include drilling on targets that are high priority in order to collect samples and specifically include testing for micro-diamonds. Also included will be prospecting and geophysical surveying over additional areas of interest.
