Mar 30 2016
CRYSTAL EXPLORATION INC. is pleased to announce additional diamonds recovered from the sample results dated March 6, 2016. Three additional diamonds greater than 0.85mm were recovered which results in an increase to the overall grade.
The diamonds were recovered through an audit of sample results that tested the combined x-ray tails and sort rejects, first by magnetic separation and finally by caustic fusion. The audit provides encouraging proof that a portion of the Muskox Kimberlite diamond population requires more processing optimization (a modified process flow sheet) to fully recover diamonds.
Jim Greig, President and CEO of Crystal Exploration Inc., commented "We are very excited to build upon the initial batch of diamond results that now includes 1.14 carats per tonne at the Muskox Kimberlite Pipe. With nearly fourty (40) tonnes of unsampled material remaining, this represents an opportunity to show diamonds exist in economic quantities without the expense of immediate drilling." In addition, "We look forward to improving Crystal's diamond potential by discovering new diamond bearing kimberlite pipes with an inventory of over fifty (50) targets based on our review and re-interpretation of millions of dollars of technical data performed by De Beers Canada and Tahera Corp. from 1996 to 2007."
Updated Diamond Results
In total, three (3) samples were submitted for diamond processing (samples DDH-MOX-004; DDH-MOX-025 and DDH-MOX-020) and weighed 2200.40 kg, 2158.80 kg, and 2083.50 kg respectively (dry weight; see Figure 1). Diamond recoveries from the samples include 16, 17 and 48 diamonds greater than 0.85 mm weighing 0.669, 0.675 and 2.376 carats, respectively. The samples graded 0.30, 0.31 and 1.14 cpt ("carats per tonne") respectively for each diamond drill hole. The largest diamonds recovered include 0.245 (MOX-004), and 0.365 and 0.253 (MOX-020) carats. The diamonds are described as off white, transparent with no to minor inclusions. The samples were processed at the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") laboratory in Saskatoon, Canada.
The results provide support that a portion of the diamonds recovered come from eclogitic nodules within the Muskox Kimberlite. Due to the physical properties of the eclogitic nodules/xenoliths, a modified process flow sheet is required to fully liberate the diamonds. Historical work at Muskox overlooked the importance and likely quantity of diamonds within xenoliths. The photos from MOX-025 and MOX-020 illustrate diamonds not fully liberated from eclogite even after secondary crushing and grinding during processing.
At depths of nearly 300m, the recent samples are from some of the deepest holes drilled at Muskox with each holes MOX-020 and MOX-025 ending in kimberlite. More drilling is required to better define the pipe shape, grade and phases at depth at the Muskox Kimberlite and to discover new kimberlites within the Crystal land package/diamond projects.
The North Slave Craton is home to all three of Crystals' 100% owned diamond projects. The Muskox Kimberlite lies 14 km southwest of the formerly producing Jericho Diamond Mine and represents an opportunity to consolidate the Muskox - Jericho diamond camps into a brownfield project. The Jericho Diamond Mine last operated in 2012 and was a 225 person camp with all infrastructure and plant remaining in place.