Peregrine Reports New Diamond Results From the CH-31 and CH-59 Kimberlites at Chidliak
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/18/12 -- Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. (TSX: PGD) ('Peregrine' or 'the Company') is pleased to report new microdiamond results from the CH-31 and CH-59 kimberlites on the 8,580 square kilometre Chidliak project ('Chidliak' or 'the Project'), Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. A cumulative 4.12 tonne sample collected by core drilling from CH-31 in 2010 and 2011 yielded 610 diamonds larger than the 0.106 mm sieve size, including 12 commercial-size diamonds larger than the 0.850 mm sieve size, which weigh a total of 0.29 carats. Including the 840 kilogram sample collected from CH-31 in 2010, a cumulative sample of 4.96 tonnes processed for diamonds by caustic fusion has returned 1.68 carats of commercial-size diamonds for a diamond content of 0.34 carats per tonne ('cpt'). In addition, a 219.6 kilogram sample of reverse circulation ('RC') cuttings collected from CH-59 in 2011 yielded 451 diamonds larger than the 0.106 mm sieve size, including three commercial-size diamonds weighing 0.045 carats.
The following table summarizes caustic fusion diamond results from samples collected to date from the CH-31 and CH-59 kimberlites. The analyses were performed at the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories ('the SRC').
DIAMOND RESULTS FROM THE CH-31 AND CH-59 KIMBERLITES
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Numbers of Diamonds According to Sieve Size
Fraction (mm)
Sample ---------------------------------------------------
Weight +0.106 +0.150 +0.212 +0.300 +0.425 +0.600
Kimberlite (kg) -0.150 -0.212 -0.300 -0.425 -0.600 -0.850
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CH-31 4,122 300 150 69 49 19 11
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CH-31(i) 840 121 66 28 11 1 1
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CH-31 Total 4,962 421 216 97 60 20 12
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CH-59 RC 219.6 239 106 57 26 14 6
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CH-59 Float(ii) 169.2 69 46 30 13 9 3
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Dia-
Car- mond
Numbers of Diamonds According to ats Con-
Sieve Size Fraction (mm) To- (+ tent
Sample ---------------------------------- tal 0.850 (cpt)
Weight +0.850 +1.180 +1.700 +2.360 +3.350 Diam- mm (+0.85
Kimberlite (kg) -1.180 -1.700 -2.360 3.350 -4.750 onds size) mm)
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CH-31 4,122 7 5 0 0 0 610 0.29 -
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CH-31(i) 840 1 2 0 1 1 233 1.39 -
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CH-31 Total 4,962 8 7 0 1 1 843 1.68 0.34
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CH-59 RC 219.6 2 1 0 0 0 451 0.045 -
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CH-59 Float(ii) 169.2 4 0 0 0 0 174 0.047 -
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(i) CH-31 results from drill core and surface material previously announced
on October 29, 2010.
The diamond content of the CH-31 sample as determined by caustic fusion
processing may not be representative of the overall diamond content of the
CH-31 kimberlite due to a number of factors including the limited area of
the kimberlite from which the CH-31 sample was collected, the relatively
small size of the sample and the fact that caustic fusion results in total
recovery of diamonds.
(ii) CH-59 results from surface material previously announced on October 27,
2011.
The three largest diamonds in the 4.12 tonne CH-31 sample were described by the SRC as a 0.055 carat off-white, transparent tetrahexahedron, a 0.038 carat off-white, transparent octahedron and a 0.033 carat off-white, transparent tetrahexahedron. The two largest diamonds in the 219.6 kg CH-59 kimberlite sample were described by the SRC as a 0.027 carat yellow transparent fragment and a 0.011 carat yellow transparent fragment.
Images of the CH-31 and CH-59 kimberlites are available on Peregrine's web-site at www.pdiam.com/i/pdf/Chidliak858.pdf.
The CH-31 kimberlite is located approximately four kilometres southeast of the CH-7 kimberlite and approximately five kilometres southeast of the CH-1 kimberlite. Three core holes in 2010 and eight core holes in 2011 were drilled into CH-31 for a total of 1,696 metres. The 4.12 tonne sample result reported today consists of 1.15 tonnes from drill core remaining from 2010 and 2.97 tonnes of drill core collected in 2011. Based on current drilling and geophysical interpretation, the surface expression of CH-31 is estimated to be four hectares and it appears to consist of pyroclastic kimberlite without any distinct kimberlite phases.
The discovery of the CH-31 kimberlite by prospecting was announced on August 4, 2010, and the results of a subsequent drilling program were reported on September 16, 2010. The recovery of a 1.15 carat diamond from an 840 kilogram microdiamond sample from CH-31 was reported on October 29, 2010.
As announced on September 12, 2011, the CH-59 kimberlite was discovered by RC drilling of a magnetic high anomaly. Kimberlite float was discovered near the southern edge of the magnetic anomaly. The kimberlite is located approximately two kilometres north of CH-52 and approximately 12 kilometres to the east of the CH-7 kimberlite. Based on the RC drilling and its geophysical signature, CH-59 has an estimated surface area of 0.1 hectares.
The presence of commercial-size diamonds at both CH-31 and CH-59 indicate that further work is warranted in the future to determine their economic potential.
Ownership of Chidliak
As reported on December 20, 2011, Peregrine has entered into a binding agreement with BHP Billiton to purchase BHP Billiton's 51% interest in Chidliak, bringing Peregrine's ownership in the Project to 100%. The transaction is expected to close by January 31, 2012.
The SRC is an independent laboratory that is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the ISO/IEC Guide 25 standard for diamond recovery by caustic fusion. The kimberlite samples were collected, sealed in secure containers and shipped to the SRC under strict chain of custody protocols supervised by senior Peregrine personnel.
Mr. Alan O'Connor, Professional Geologist, Peregrine's Chidliak Project Manager, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and is responsible for the design and conduct of the programs carried out by the Company at Chidliak. Mr. O'Connor has reviewed this release and approves of its contents.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to the proposed exploration program, funding availability, anticipated exploration results, resource estimates, future exploration and operating plans and completion of the acquisition of BHP Billiton's Chidliak interest) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, uncertainties relating to the availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, world diamond markets, future diamond prices, reliability of mineral property titles, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risks, other risks involved in the diamond exploration business and completion of the acquisition of BHP Billiton's Chidliak interest. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty.
Contacts:
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd.
Mr. Eric Friedland
CEO
604-408-8880
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd.
Mr. Brooke Clements
President
604-408-8880
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd.
Mr. Mike Westerlund, Vice President,
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
604-408-8880
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd.
Investor Relations
604-408-8880
604-408-8881 (FAX)
investorrelations@pdiam.com
www.pdiam.com