Oct 17 2013
Pangolin Diamonds Corp. (the “Company” or “Pangolin”) announced that it has discovered one of the largest kimberlites in the world, modeled at 270 hectares (2.7 km2), at its 100% owned Tsabong North Project (the “Project”) in Botswana.
Kimberlite Discovery
The new discovery stems from Pangolin’s discovery earlier this year of two kimberlites, Magi-01 and Magi-02, at its Tsabong North Project.
Aeromagnetic data on those finds was submitted by Pangolin for independent review by Mr. Billy Steenkamp, of Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics of Pretoria, South Africa. Mr. Steenkamp is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 rules. His observations include the following:
- The previously reported Magi kimberlites are part of a single intrusive complex with a total surface area estimated at 270 Hectares (2.7 km2):
- Some of the selected intrusive kimberlite targets could be of syn- or pre-Karoo age; and
- Two new kimberlite drill targets have been identified with total intrusive areas modeled at 170 Hectares (1.7 km2) and 175 Hectares (1.75 km2).
Based on these observations, Pangolin drilled a new hole between the Magi-01 and Magi-02 kimberlites. The new hole positively intersected the same sandy tuffs recognized in the two previous drill holes, confirming that the Magi-Kimberlite is a single large body and not two smaller kimberlites as previously believed.
The Magi-Kimberlite has now been confirmed over a distance of 1,200 metres in an East-West direction. The average depth of intersection of the crater facies sediments is approximately 35 metres. The depths of intersection of the sandy tuffs vary between 55.3 and 61.5 metres.
Further work will begin shortly; seven additional holes have been laid out for core drilling to determine the final size of the Magi-Kimberlite. These core holes will also be used towards modeling the complex geology of the crater sediments and kimberlitic sandy tuffs in preparation for future possible larger diameter drilling. Each hole will intersect at least 100 metres of kimberlite to recover any additional indicator minerals, and any diamonds. One hole will be drilled to a minimum depth of 250 metres of kimberlite intersection.
Detailed logging of the core indicates that the Magi-Kimberlite is of syn-Karoo age. This makes it older than the Cretaceous diamondiferous kimberlites of the Tsabong kimberlite field further to the south, dated at 78 million years, but potentially similar in age to the Jwaneng kimberlites, dated at 245 million years.
Core samples from all the holes are being submitted to independent laboratories to recover any additional indicator minerals, and any diamonds. High pressure garnets originating deep in the earth’s mantle have previously been recovered from the Magi-1/1 drill core, 14 metres above the surface of the Magi-Kimberlite.
Dr Leon Daniels, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Pangolin, stated: “The geophysical models available to Pangolin strongly suggest the potential for discovering additional very large kimberlites in the Tsabong North Project area.”
About the Tsabong North Project
The Tsabong North Project, located approximately 100 km north of the town of Tsabong in south-western Botswana, is 1,545 km2 in size. It is comprised of anomalous concentrations of kimberlite indicators and has large geo-botanical features. Pangolin has identified more than 50 drill-ready aeromagnetic targets in the Project area, several of which have surface areas exceeding 20 Hectares (0.2 km2).
The Tsabong North Project is situated on the margin of the Archaean Kaapvaal Craton in a similar tectonic environment to the Orapa kimberlite field. The 45 mantle-derived garnets inclusive of the high pressure garnets were discovered in the drill core Magi-01/01. These garnets are very similar in chemical composition to the garnets from the Letlhakane Mine in the Orapa area.
Pangolin’s soil sampling has produced highly anomalous concentrations of kimberlite indicators within the Project area. Microprobe analyses of indicator minerals have confirmed the presence of G10 garnets, indicating the presence of a mantle conducive to the crystallization of diamonds. A number of indicators occur, including remnants of kelyphite that indicate close proximity to kimberlite. Enzyme-leach trace element results are consistent with orientation trace element results over known kimberlites near the Project.
The Company cautions that information regarding the Se251, MK1, Mwadui, and Orapa kimberlites, and Letlhakane Mine or Orapa Mine, are not necessarily indicative of the kimberlite or kimberlite targets being drilled by the Company. The Company further cautions that there is no guarantee that the kimberlite and/or kimberlite targets being drilled by the Company will return diamond results of any economic significance.
About Pangolin Diamonds Corp
Pangolin Diamonds Corp. is building a leading diamond exploration and development company in the heart of Botswana, the world's leading diamond producing country by value. The Company is the 100% owner of 9 Prospecting Licences encompassing the Tsabong North, Jwaneng South, Malatswae and Mmadinare Projects. Pangolin’s management and team leaders have over 135 years of combined diamond exploration experience in southern Africa. This makes the Company the most experienced diamond explorer in Botswana other than De Beers Exploration and Debswana. The Company is equipped for exploration, with two diamond drill rigs and a fully portable one-tonne per hour Dense Media Separation Plant used to prepare samples and make diamond concentrates. Pangolin is well-funded to continue its exploration programs for the next year.