Peregrine Diamonds Ltd has announced that its 2017 resource epansion drill programme has confirmed that the high-grade CH-6 kimberlite extends an additional 280 metres or up to 540 metres below surface (mbs) and remains open below that point, which is the current limit of drilling.

The Company also reported that the caustic fusion microdiamond results from the programme match well with pre-2017 microdiamond results for the KIM-L High Grade (estimated at 4.16 carats per tonne) and the KIM-L Normal Grade (estimated at 2.12 cpt in the Inferred Resource) kimberlite units.

In terms of colours, the diamonds were predominantly white and off-white colours with very minor grey or brown colours, as was the case in previous years, Peregrine stated. While yellow colours were more prominent, the recovery also included four fragments of a unique green diamond which on reconstruction produced a whole stone with dimensions of 2.4 x 1.7 x 0.8 millimetres.

Tom Peregoodoff, Peregrine’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The microdiamond data from this years’ drilling clearly demonstrates that not only is the grade of this newly-defined extension of the CH-6 kimberlite very similar to that which we have previously defined, but also that we can expect the same macro diamond size distribution, which has important implications for future diamond valuations.”

Peregrine will use this information to release a new resource statement by mid-February, Peregoodoff added.

An onsite Dense Media Separation has been planned and the current focus is selecting an appropriate location. The plant would allow for the processing and recovery of diamonds onsite, thus expediting the advancement of CH-6, CH-7, and other kimberlites to feasibility, Peregoodoff said.