Geological research company excited about early research on diamonds in the North.
An international company is awaiting results of geological samples taken from undisclosed sources in County Fermanagh. Following on from other businesses researching gold deposits in Northern Ireland also, will we see the North become a hotspot for extraction of precious minerals ?
It may be difficult to say at this juncture in time, by Keralian seems bouyant about the initial findings of the research.
In what the chairman of the Company, Professor Richard Conroy describes as “exciting results that heighten the prospectivity of the Company’s exploration programme in Northern Ireland”, Irish diamond explorer, AIM-listed Karelian Diamond Resources plc. (whose activities to date have primarily been centred in Finland) has today released to the Stock Exchange, a detailed technical statement outlining the progress that has been made to date in its search for diamonds in Co. Fermanagh – a development first announced by the Company last July.
A spokesperson for Keralian said in a technical statement that anomalous amounts of chromite have been identified in the sampling programme.
• Highly anomalous amounts of chromite and forsterite olivine have been encountered
• Metamorphic massive sulphide indicator minerals are also identified
• Local sampling programme confirms and builds on previous regional studies
There are significant implications for additional targets in Karelian’s Northern Ireland licence Karelian Diamond Resources plc (AIM: KDR) is pleased to announce results from its stream sediment sampling programme focused in Northern Ireland. Ten samples were collected and shipped to Overburden Drilling Management Limited in Canada for mineral concentration, picking and analysis for indicator minerals.
The sampling programme was being carried out in relation to the reported discovery of a diamond in the Colebrooke River and previous reported recovery of chromite minerals which can be associated with the presence of diamondiferous kimberlites.
Results prove the presence of chromite in all samples with nine samples being interpreted as either
anomalous or highly anomalous. The best sample contained over 1,800 chromite grains in the 0.25 – 2.0mm size fraction. The samples also showed the presence of forsterite olivine and metamorphic massive sulphide indicator minerals (“MMSIM’s”), chalcopyrite and low chrome diopside.
Initial interpretation of the chromite grains and forsterite olivine together with the MMSIM’s is suggestive of a non-kimberlite source rock which is indicative of additional targets for mineralisation within Karelian’s licence area.
Relating these results to the Tellus geochemical and geophysical programmes, carried out by the Northern Ireland Government in the mid 2000s, provides insight to possible sources of the chromite mineralisation. The Tellus project proved the presence of elevated levels of nickel, copper, chromium, platinum and palladium in the area of the Company’s licence. Interpretation suggests these geochemical enrichments are associated with Palaeocene dykes which crosscut the area.
Relating these results with other sampling programmes in known areas of Nickel–Copper–Platinum
mineralisation globally indicates the Company’s data should be considered as highly anomalous. 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 and Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in respect of AIM Companies, which outlines standards of disclosure for mineral projects.
Platinum, Palladium and Chromium are classified as ‘Critical metals (Minerals, Critical Minerals and the US Economy, National Research Council, 2008) Nickel and Copper are important metals in the energy transition (International Monetary Fund, 2021).
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman, Karelian Diamond Resources plc, said: “These exciting results heighten the prospectivity of the Company’s exploration programme in Northern Ireland and add an additional dimension to the Company’s exploration interests.”
The prospects are fascinating. Will we see mining for these rare substances in years to come?
The next time you are out for a walk in the hills and along rivers banks, you never know, you may just be walking on a very precious stone!
