Exploration and development firm Pangolin Diamonds has discovered what it claims to be one of the largest kimberlite pipes in the world at its Tsabong North project, in Botswana.
The company said it had modelled the kimberlite at 270ha, which compares with the Se251 kimberlite in Angola, which measures 220ha, the MK1 kimberlite in Botswana, measuring 180ha, and the Mwadui kimberlite in Tanzania, measuring 146ha.
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The new discovery stems from the company’s findings earlier in 2013 of two kimberlites, Magi-01 and Magi-02, at the project.
The Magi kimberlites are part of a single intrusive complex, with a total surface area estimated at 270ha.
Pangolin said the conclusions were made after aeromagnetic data on the two original kimberlites were submitted by the company for an NI 43-101 compliant independent review.
Based on the observations, the company drilled a new hole between the Magi-01 and Magi-02 kimberlites, intersecting the same sandy tuffs as in the previous two drill holes, confirming that the Magi-kimberlite is indeed a single large body and not two smaller kimberlites as initially believed.
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By GlobalDataThe company expects to start further work soon, with seven additional holes laid out for core drilling to determine the final size of the Magi-kimberlite.
Each hole will intersect at least 100m of kimberlite to recover any additional indicator minerals and any diamonds, while one hole will be drilled to a minimum depth of 250m of the kimberlite intersection.
Pangolin chairman of the board Leon Daniels said, “The geophysical models available to Pangolin strongly suggest the potential for discovering additional very large kimberlites in the Tsabong North project area.”
Situated around 100km north of the town of Tsabong in south-western Botswana, the Tsabong North project is 1,545km² in size, features anomalous concentrations of kimberlite indicators, and has large geo-botanical features.
Pangolin has identified over 50 drill-ready aeromagnetic targets in the project area, several of which have surface areas crossing 20ha.
Image: Pangolin had modelled the kimberlite at 270ha, which compares with the Se251 kimberlite in Angola that measures 220ha. Photo: Courtesy of Pangolin Diamonds.
