Diamond indicator minerals at Riihivaara target

 
TIDMKDR 
 
9 December 2011 
 
                         KARELIAN DIAMOND RESOURCES PLC 
 
                DIAMOND INDICATOR MINERALS AT RIIHIVAARA TARGET 
 
  * Positive basal till sampling results - Twelve garnet indicator minerals 
    recovered 
 
  * One grain determined to be eclogitic (G3) and one pyroxenitic (G4) 
 
  * Three G10 and five G9 diamond indicator minerals also recovered 
 
Karelian Diamond Resources plc ("Karelian") (AIM: KDR, ESM: KDR.I) is pleased 
to announce positive results from a basal till sampling programme on its 
Riihivaara target in the Kuhmo area, near the Company's 6.9 hectare 
diamondiferous Seitaperä kimberlite pipe in Eastern Finland. The results 
suggest that a diamondiferous kimberlite pipe or dyke is likely to exist in the 
Riihivaara area. 
 
The till sampling programme at Riihivaara resulted in the recovery of twelve 
garnet indicator minerals, comprising three G10's, five G9's, one G4, one G3 
and two G1's. Six of the positive results, including the G4 pyroxenitic garnet 
occurred within a single till sample. The adjacent sample had two positive 
results, including the eclogitic G3 garnet. 
 
These garnets and other mantle-derived minerals are used to locate kimberlites 
and are referred to as kimberlite indicator minerals. Some of these garnets, 
the G10's and certain G9's, are created under similar conditions to diamonds 
within the ultramafic mantle rocks underlying the crust and are therefore used 
as predictors of the presence of diamonds. There is a strong statistical 
correlation between G10 and certain G9 garnets, like those found in Riihivaara, 
and the presence of diamonds. 
 
The sampling programme was undertaken on Karelian's behalf by the Geological 
Survey of Finland (GTK) in conjunction with the Company's technical staff. 
Sample analysis was undertaken in the GTK laboratories. 
 
Dr. Hugh O'Brien, a diamond specialist with the GTK stated: "G3 (eclogitic) and 
G4 (pyroxenitic) garnets are very unusual for eastern Finland. It is surprising 
to find eclogite-derived grains in this area, because the kimberlites found to 
date in the Kuhmo-Lentiira-Kostomuksha area are very poor in eclogite 
component, being rather much more dominated by peridotite indicators." 
 
Eclogite mantle material is significant as it tends to be associated with a 
much higher grade of diamonds than peridotite mantle material. 
 
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman commented: 
 
"I am very pleased with the latest sample results which show a strong 
correlation with the presence of diamonds and the discovery of eclogitic 
material which tends to be associated with higher diamond grades, both very 
positive indicators." 
 
This release has been approved by Kevin McNulty PGeo, who is a member of the 
Company's technical staff, who holds a BSc/MSc in Geology and Remote Sensing, 
in accordance with the guidance note for Mining, Oil & Gas Companies issued by 
the London Stock Exchange in respect of AIM Companies, which outlines standards 
of disclosure for mineral projects. 
 
Further Information: 
 
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman, Karelian       Tel: [phone] 
Diamond Resources plc 
 
Simon Clements/Virginia Bull, Merchant Securities  Tel: [phone] 
Limited (Nomad) 
 
Brian Farrell, IBI Corporate Finance Limited (ESM  Tel: [phone] 
Adviser) 
 
John Grant/Karen Kelly/David Lawman , XCAP         Tel: [phone] 
Securities PLC (Broker) 
 
Michael Padley/Michael Spriggs, Lothbury Financial Tel: [phone] 
Services Limited 
 
Don Hall, Hall Communications                      Tel: [phone] 
 
http://www.kareliandiamondresources.com 
 
 
 
END