Stornoway Announces Diamond Content Models for Renard 65

Stornoway Diamond (TSX:SWY) reports results of a diamond content for the Renard 65 kimberlite pipe at the Renard diamond project.

Renard 65 is the largest kimberlite pipe in the Renard cluster, with a surface area of approximately 1.7 hectares. In 2003 a large, gem quality diamond of 4.04 carats was recovered within drill core, an exceptionally rare occurrence in diamond exploration. However, subsequent larger scale sampling, through both reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling and surface trenching, returned lower diamond contents than the nearby Renard 2, 3, 4 and 9 kimberlites, and consequently Renard 65 was not incorporated in the recently updated Renard Preliminary Assessment (Stornoway Press Release dated March 22, 2010).

Matt Manson, President and CEO of Stornoway says:

“This work represents an example of the integrated geological and diamond analysis that we are using to gain an increasingly detailed understanding of the diamond distribution within the Renard kimberlite pipes. We now believe that Renard 65 has the potential to add value to an operating Renard diamond mine, which would be developed initially on the higher grade Renard 2, 3 and 4 ore bodies. Without a bulk sample at Renard 65, no mineral reserve can be established in the short term, and no change in the Renard conceptual mine plan is contemplated at this time. However, the implication of this work is that a large tonnage of potentially viable kimberlite occurs close to the planned mine infrastructure, amenable to low cost stripping and open at depth. Consequently, consideration will be made within the ongoing mine design for future development at Renard 65, and additional work will be undertaken to better understand the potential grade distribution within the kimberlite, particularly at depth.”

For complete news release, click here.

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