India Resources discovers kimberlitic indicators

Diversified minerals explorer India Resources has continued its exploration....

  Diversified minerals explorer India Resources has continued its exploration success, with the discovery of kimberlitic indicator minerals in its Bhandara Diamond Project in eastern India.The kimberlitic indicators, which are often associated with the presence of diamonds, were discovered in stream sediment sampling at Bhandara, and will now be the subject of more detailing testing. India Resources Chairman, Michael Kiernan said the discovery validated the company’s targeted exploration program, and enhanced its diamond prospects in India. “India is known as the home of diamonds, although it remains largely unexplored—particularly with modern mining techniques,” Mr Kiernan said. “We believe there is significant diamond potential in the region. Our exploration program is targeting the best prospects, and results such as this are very encouraging,” he said. India Resources recently expanded its diamond base in India with the granting of a reconnaissance permit (RP) for diamond leases in India’s primary diamond producing region. The RP covers more than 1,000sqkm and lies in the Bundelkhand Project in the state of Madhya Pradesh, close to India’s only producing diamond mine at Panna. Exploration is also delivering results at India Resources’ copper projects, with recent laboratory analyses of drill samples from the program at Sathuddia in the Aravalli Project confirming and enhancing the preliminary results. “We are now focused on taking exploration at Sathuddia to the next stage, and actively targeting the top ranked prospects via geochemical exploration,” Mr Kiernan said. India Resources’ primary copper project at Surda is on track to commence first production next month. Plant commissioning, with production on a trial basis, is expected to commence in November. The Bhandara sampling program included processing and observation on 76 regional sites. Up to 40kg of sample at individual trap sites was collected and reduced by Wilfley Table, before being observed in Perth. Eight samples returned a “positive” result with chromite minerals exhibiting kimberlitic morphology, while a further 24 samples were regarded as worth following up.