Karelian Diamond Res. Lahtojoki South Diamond Exploration Update

 
TIDMKDR 
 
Karelian Diamond Resources plc 
 
                    ("Karelian Diamonds" or "the Company") 
 
                                                                     4 May 2021 
 
                  LAHTOJOKI SOUTH DIAMOND EXPLORATION UPDATE 
 
  * Mantle garnet minerals observed in Boulder Material 
 
  * Cut section reveals purple to red garnets and ilmenites 
 
  * Results provide further evidence of undiscovered, potentially 
    Diamondiferous Kimberlite in the vicinity of Lahtojoki Diamond Deposit 
 
Karelian Diamond Resources plc (AIM: KDR), the diamond exploration company 
focused on Finland, is pleased to announce new results from its ongoing diamond 
exploration programme in the Lahtojoki South exploration area. A cut and 
polished section of the kimberlite boulder material (details of which were 
announced by the Company on 5 March 2021) has revealed the presence of mantle 
garnets. 
 
Observations of the cut and polished section of the boulder made by the 
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in their Espoo Laboratory have revealed a 
number of purple to red peridotitic garnets (G9/10 Cr-pyrope), several orange 
mantle or crustal garnets, and a number of large ilmenite grains*. 
 
These minerals are typical of mantle detritus found in kimberlite that indicate 
that this boulder material represents cooled magma derived from the Earth's 
mantle. 
 
The results are further evidence that an undiscovered, potentially 
diamondiferous, kimberlite body may exist in the vicinity of the Lahtojoki 
diamond deposit. 
 
These findings will be followed up by a petrographic microscope investigation 
of thin sections from the boulder material and Electron Probe Micro Analyzer 
("EPMA") analyses of the mantle garnets and a determination if the ilmenite is 
high Magnesium Oxide (MgO) picroilmenite typical of kimberlites. 
 
The EPMA analyses of mantle garnets minerals may confirm whether the mantle 
minerals of purple to red peridotitic garnets are derived from similar depths 
to where diamonds are formed thus indicating whether the kimberlite sampled 
within the diamond stability field. 
 
The discovery of the kimberlite boulders in the Lahtojoki south exploration 
permit licence area, and the subsequent studies which proved the boulders to be 
altered hypabyssal kimberlite, a different form of kimberlite from that present 
in the Lahtojoki deposit, confirms that these boulders are not derived from the 
Lahtojoki diamondiferous kimberlite pipe. 
 
Kimberlites tend to occur in clusters and as such these findings suggest the 
probability of an additional, potentially diamondiferous source in the vicinity 
of the Lahtojoki diamond deposit. 
 
Photo 1: Two purple to red garnet grains and two generations of olivine 
pseudomorphs 
 
Photo 2: One orange garnet and olivine pseudomorphs 
 
*Images of the polished boulder can be viewed on the Company website: http:// 
www.kareliandiamondresources.com/ 
 
This release has been approved by Kevin McNulty PGeo, who is a member of the 
Company's technical staff 
 
and 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. 
 
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman, Karelian Diamond Resources plc commented: 
 
"The results are further encouragement that an additional kimberlite source 
could exist in the vicinity of the Lahtojoki diamond deposit which the Company 
is working to develop as the first diamond mine in Europe (outside of Russia)." 
 
Further information: 
 
Karelian Diamond Resources plc 
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman                         [phone] 
 
Allenby Capital Limited (Nomad) 
Nick Athanas / Nick Harriss                                [phone] 
 
First Equity Limited (Broker) 
Jason Robertson                                            [phone] 
 
Lothbury Financial Services 
Michael Padley                                             [phone] 
 
Hall Communications 
Don Hall                                                   [phone] 
 
http://www.kareliandiamondresources.com 
 
 
 
END 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 04, 2021 04:00 ET (08:00 GMT)