Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Successful Conclusion of 2008 Tuzo Bulk Sampling Program
20 March 2008 - 3:31AM
PR Newswire (US)
Shares Issued and Outstanding: 59,860,881 TSX: MPV AMEX: MDM
TORONTO and NEW YORK, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mountain
Province Diamonds Inc (TSX: MPV, AMEX: MDM) today reported that the
2008 Tuzo bulk sampling program has concluded successfully ahead of
schedule. This bulk sampling program was designed to recover
approx. 1,500 tonnes of kimberlite from the Tuzo kimberlite pipe
using two 24 inch large-diameter drill rigs. A total of nine holes
were drilled, with four holes to depths of 101 meters, three holes
to depths of 126.5 meters and two holes to depths of approx. 300
meters. Processing of the drill core at De Beers' Grand Prairie
facility commenced on February 23, 2008 and is expected to be
completed by May, 2008. The concentrated kimberlite will then be
processed to recover macro diamonds which, together with the
approx. 600 carats recovered from prior years' exploration, should
provide a sufficiently large sample (approx. 2,000 carats) to
enable the Joint Venture to do accurate diamond revenue modeling
for the Tuzo kimberlite. Located in Canada's Northwest Territories,
Gahcho Kue is the largest new diamond mine under development
globally. The project consists of a cluster of three primary
kimberlites with an indicated resource of approximately 14.4
million tonnes grading at 1.64 carats per tonne (approximately 23.6
million carats) and an inferred resource of approximately 17
million tonnes grading at 1.35 carats per tonne (approximately 22.9
million carats). Gahcho Kue is currently in the permitting and
advanced exploration stage of development. Mountain Province
Diamonds (49 percent) is a joint venture partner with De Beers
Canada Inc (51 percent) in the Gahcho Kue project. De Beers is the
operator of the project and can be called on to fund the project
through to commercial production. Qualified Person This news
release has been prepared under the supervision of Carl G. Verley,
P.Geo., who serves as the qualified person under National
Instrument 43-101. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may
contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the
"safe-harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, regarding the Company's business or financial
condition. Actual results could differ materially from those
described in this news release as a result of numerous factors,
some of which are outside the control of the Company. DATASOURCE:
Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. CONTACT: Mountain Province Diamonds
Inc., Patrick Evans, President and CEO, Tel: (416) 670-5114
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