Survey for diamonds completed in the Kimberley

A large aerial survey to identify prospective new diamond exploration targets....

  A large aerial survey to identify prospective new diamond exploration targets has been completed in Western Australia’s diamondiferous Kimberley Region.ASX-listed Paramount Mining Corporation said yesterday that the survey, carried out for Paramount by Fugro Airborne Surveys Ltd, covered a total of 5,455 line kilometres within the Napier Project area, located in the west Kimberley.The survey aims to detect anomalous magnetic signals that may represent deposits containing diamonds – either lamproite bodies or ancient river systems that may have captured diamonds shed from them. In particular, the survey is investigating any extensions into two areas either side of a possible palaeochannel target identified in the central Block 1 from an earlier survey by Paramount of this west Kimberley property, the Napier Project. This palaeochannel target, part of Paramount’s three contigious Napier blocks, is a major linear feature which could represent part of a an ancient river similar to that being tested for diamonds by Blina Diamonds NL just to the southeast of Napier, in the Ellendale Lamproite Field.The new survey, over Blocks 2 and 3 (covering 4,936 and 519 line kilometres respectively), has covered of the balance of the Napier Project area not covered by the previous survey, with flight lines 100m apart flown in a north-south direction, and with sensor height at approximately 40m. Radiometric readings were also taken. “Fugro has advised us that the preliminary data from the survey will be available to the company by early October 2007,” Paramount’s Chief Executive Officer, Maureen Muggeridge, said yesterday. “The new survey is seeking more targets of either lamproite pipe or palaeochannel potential, based on a theory that the Ellendale Lamproite Field may extend to the northwest across the Lennard and Meda Rivers.” A heritage site clearance survey, arranged by the Kimberley Land Council (KLC), has also recently been completed, seeking approval from Native Title applicants for a ground based work programme over part of the Napier Project area, including the linear feature zone. Paramount expects to receive a report soon from the KLC as to the outcome of the survey.