Karelian posts positive results from Lahtojoki

Finland-focused diamond exploration company Karelian Diamond Resources announced on Wednesday that it has received results and a report from the Geological Survey of Finland, commissioned by the company on a Kimberlite boulder discovery to the south west of the its Lahtojoki diamond deposit.

The AIM-traded firm said a further six kimberlite boulders were subsequently found in a pit excavated by the GTK about 500m up ice direction from the original boulder discovery.

It said known ice flow direction suggested that the boulders could not have been derived from the Lahtojoki diamond deposit.

Additionally, evidence from initial petrographic and mineral chemistry suggested that the boulders represent a kimberlite type not known from the Lahtojoki kimberlite pipe.

It is therefore likely, the board claimed, that the boulders originate from an as yet undiscovered kimberlite body.

Both basal till samples and kimberlite samples were processed for indicator mineral studies.

Initial analysis indicated low heat flow geotherm, which Karelian described as “excellent” regarding the size of the mantle diamond window.

It said the ilmenite composition resembled that of Lahtojoki, but indicates even better diamond preservation index, with the source for the boulders possibly also diamondiferous.

A claim reservation over the area of interest has been applied for by Karelian.

Further exploration, on behalf of Karelian, will be carried out by the GTK, with a view to locating the bedrock source.

“I am very pleased by the discovery of these kimberlite boulders and the results of subsequent analysis which raises the possibility of another diamondiferous kimberlite close to our Lahtojoki diamond deposit,” said chairman Professor Richard Conroy.

“If confirmed this would further increase the financial and technical attractiveness of the Lahtojoki diamond deposit.”