June 13, 2003
Diamond hunters make
kimberlite find outside Rankin Inlet
Trust Me Property
glows with promise
Nunatsiaq
News
Despite the Nunavut governments
attempts to promote prospecting among Nunavut residents, it is southern prospectors
representing small junior mining companies who are cashing in on the territorys
exploration boom.
The latest example of that
was announced this week, when Shear Minerals Ltd., the 51 per cent majority
partner in a group doing geophysical research near Rankin Inlet, reported that
it has found a promising kimberlite occurrence about 20 kilometres from the
community.
Its the companys
second such discovery, adding strength to their belief that theyll eventually
find a diamond-rich kimberlite pipe in the area.
Shear Minerals, together
with Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. and BHP Billiton, hold the exploration rights
to 1.1 million acres of land in the southern Kivalliq region in a venture theyre
calling the Churchill Diamond Project.
These discoveries
clearly confirm our belief that Churchill will become one of Canadas leading
diamond projects, said Northern Empires president and CEO, John
Robins, in a company press release issued June 9.
The three partners are
touting a section of the Churchill project located near Rankin, called the Trust
Me Property, because of its proximity to seasonal shipping, all-year-round
air transport and fuel supplies.
BHP, the mining industry
giant that developed Ekati, Canadas first diamond mine, bought its way
into the project by paying $3 million for a 14 per cent share previously held
by the Hunter Exploration Group.
As part of the deal, BHP
agreed not to launch a bid to take over Shear Minerals or Northern Empire for
at least four years.
In January, the three firms
agreed to spend $2.5 million exploring their property in the Kivalliq.
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