Microdiamonds recovery was undertaken by caustic fusion methods at the Geoanalystical Laboratories Diamond Services of the Saskatchewan Research Council.
Mountain Province Diamonds president and CEO Patrick Evans said that Gahcho Kué diamond project in Northwest Canada is already the world’s largest new diamond mine.
"The diamond recovery results from the Tuzo Deep drill program confirm the potential for Gahcho Kué to be even larger and richer.
"The microdiamond results indicate the potential for the grade to increase below 350 meters, which if confirmed would place Gahcho Kué amongst the richest of all known diamond deposits," Evans added.
The Tuzo kimberlite is among the four known kimberlites located within the Gahcho Kué joint venture with De Beers Canada.
Of these, three kimberlites including 5034, Hearne and Tuzo have a probable reserve of 31.3 million tonnes at a grade of 1.57 carats a tonne, for a total of 49 million carats.
The mine is estimated to produce an average of 4.5 million carats a year for the first 11 years.
