Diamond report

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 22

Diamond report

NZPA Melbourne The Ashton diamond venture had found a total of 32851 diamonds in testing of its prospect near Derby in Western Australia. Pipe A. where surface testing has been completed, pro-) duced a total of 966 diamonds. according to a supplementary report on testing released by C.R.A. The recovery of gem and industrial diamonds was 412! :carats at the end of October. Monday’s report indicates I that testing of samples dug' ifrom areas in the prospect! ' so far has covered less than half the 26 "pipes” so far ■ located. ! C.R.A. said that the results'

■ were taken from a limited number of surface samples, and were not necessarily re iipresentative of the over all ■ grade of the pipes The largest stone recov - ered to date weighs 5.7 carts. A few samples have been i taken from each of nine pipes to develop a ranking of pipes 1 The nine pipes covered 277 hectares. The yield from the nine I pipes was 2319 diamonds about 215 carats The volume of material ; treated was about 5760 cubic ;> metres and 60 samples were I taken. i! The report did not disclose • what proportion of the diamonds were of gem and iniidustrial quality.