Lucapa Diamond Company (ASX:LOM) reports that it has identified seven new kimberlite targets following interpretation of historical De Beers airborne hyperspectral data at its Merlin Diamond Project in the Northern Territory.
The identified targets display rich magnesium clay signatures that are commonly associated with kimberlites and lie about 3km to the east of the known Merlin kimberlites.
Addressing the results, Lucapa Managing Director, Stephen Wetherall, said: “The identification of these kimberlite targets through interpretation of the historical De Beers hyperspectral data increases our confidence that there could be more diamondiferous kimberlites at Merlin beyond the 13 previously identified.
“This is a very positive first step by our technical team and we look forward to growing our exploration efforts at Merlin”
This is a very positive first step by our technical team and we look forward to growing our exploration efforts at Merlin.”
The company also notes that this is the first time this data has been interpreted by an operator at Merlin since Lucapa acquired the airborne hyperspectral data in 1997.
In addition, it is reported that this recently interpreted data is set to be integrated with existing airborne geophysics, as well as other metallurgical test work results in order to identify additional kimberlite targets for follow-up.
The Merlin Diamond project is located about 720km south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory and covers a total land tenure of 307km-square across an exploration tenement and a tenement with an associated mining lease.
The project is host to 11 known kimberlites between three general clusters and have produced over 500,000 carats from 2.2 million tonnes (Mt) of kimberlite tread, including the largest diamond ever recorded in Australia.
Lucapa announces that further interpretation and follow-up field work programs are set to commence soon.
