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Diagem Recovers Gem-Quality Diamonds of 5.46 and 5.60 Carats at Collier-04
Market Wire, October, 2007
Diagem Inc. ("Diagem" or "the Company")(TSX VENTURE: DGE) is pleased to report the recovery of two particularly valuable gem-quality diamonds of 5.46 and 5.60 carats from the August bulk testing of the weathered portion of the Collier-04 kimberlite pipe. Pictures of the two diamonds are posted on the Company's website ( www.diagem.com ). Gemologist Daniel Berringer, of the Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals ("IBGM"), has been contracted by Diagem to evaluate these diamonds together with a more than 6,000 carat parcel of diamonds also recovered from Collier-04.
Diagem's Chief Executive Officer, Denis Francoeur, commented: "This is extremely encouraging. The recovery of such stones will definitely enhance ore value at Collier-04."
To date, diamonds weighing 1.0 carat or more each (244 diamonds weighing in total 518.8 carats) make up 7.6% of the total carat weight of all diamonds recovered. Table 1 below lists the plus 1.0 carat diamonds, recovered during this period, categorized by weight.
Table 1: Diamonds Weighing More Than 1 Carat
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Total
Individual
Diamonds greater than 1 to 2 2 to 4 4 to 10 above 10
1 carat carats carats carats carats
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# Diamonds 244 184 38 18 4
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Carats 518.8 249.7 107.8 93.6 67.7
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A total of 57,311 diamonds weighing 6,858 carats have been recovered from the processing of 19,767 cubic metres of in situ material at Collier-04. This represents an average diamond grade of 0.35 carats per cubic metre and an average carat weight of 0.12 carats per diamond.
Table 2 below charts the diamonds recovered at the Company's X-Ray Separator facility and represents the bulk extraction of the kimberlitic material to the end of August 2007 since commissioning of the pilot plant.
Diagem continues to assess the economic feasibility of the Collier-04 project which, in addition to the value of the diamonds, is dependant upon several other variables and improvements including increasing throughput at the plant through additional work shifts, and the economically efficient recovery of diamonds between 1.0 to 1.7 millimetres in size. Both of these initiatives have the potential to significantly enhance the economics of the operation. Implementation of equipment upgrades at the X-Ray sorting facility, which is currently in progress, and the installation of a grease table are also expected to improve future diamond recovery and contribute to a higher return.
Table 2: Collier-04 Kimberlite Pipe Diamond Recovery and Grade
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Pilot Plant Performance (one shift - 5 days per week)
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Pilot Plant Nominal Diamonds greater than
Capacity: 22 m3/hr 1.7 mm
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2007 Volume m3 m3/hr Carats Grade ct/m3 # of Stones
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March 1,034 11 342 0.33 2,722
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April 1,151 13 368 0.32 2,954
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May 2,349 15 620 0.26 4,875
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June 2,850 18 840 0.29 6,410
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July 3,480 19 1,391 0.40 11,334
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August 3,497 17 1,211 0.35 10,323
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Sub Total 14,361 4,772 0.33 38,618
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Moveable Plants Performance
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Moveable Plants each with a Nominal
Capacity of 10 m3/hr (i)
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All 5,406 9 2,086 0.39 18,693
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Total Diamond Recovery
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Grand Total 19,767 6,858 0.35 57,311
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(i)The moveable plants ceased testing at Collier-04 in mid-August