Star-Orion South project in Saskatchewan becomes a treasure trove for 3,000 diamonds

According to Star Diamond, among the thousands of rocks recovered from the trench, three were large 10.13, 8.10 and 7.29-carat Type IIa diamonds, while 25 diamonds were greater than 1 carat. The latter were all recovered from the Early Joli Fou kimberlite, which is the dominant kimberlite unit within the project in terms of ore volume and diamond grade.

“The recent recovery of larger Type IIa diamonds from Rio Tinto Canada’s bulk sample program continues to strengthen our expectation for recovery of large, high-value diamonds in a future producing diamond mine,” Ken MacNeill, Star Diamond CEO said in a media statement.

“There were also 5.15 and 3.44-carat diamonds recovered from the ninth trench, with the 3.44-carat diamond being an ‘H’ (near colourless) octahedron.”

MacNeill also said that initial results from the first nine reported trenches continue to validate the grades outlined in the company’s preliminary economic analysis, which was based upon its own prior underground bulk sampling and large diameter drilling programs.

“Star Diamond has now publicly reported initial results from nine of the 10 bulk sample trenches excavated by Rio Tinto Canada,” the executive said. “Until critically important and comprehensive diamond breakage studies are completed, the processing, diamond recovery and reporting of all diamond results on the bulk sample trenches excavated by Rio Tinto Canada will not be complete.”