Rio Tinto's huge trench cutting rig at the Project Falcon diamond venture east of Prince Albert. (submitted photo/Rio Tinto)

By Glenn Hicks

diamonds in the deep rough

Project Falcon initial results in, diamond breakage indicated

Aug 7, 2020 | 8:00 AM

The initial findings are in from the first of 10 huge trenches cut into the Fort à la Corne diamond exploration site east of Prince Albert.

While over 2,500 diamonds weighing a total of 120 carats were recovered, there appears to have been damage done to diamonds, according to Star Diamond, which is in a partnership on the massive project with mining giant Rio Tinto.

“There are indications that recent diamond breakage has occurred in the diamond parcels recovered… suggesting the extraction and/or processing systems being used by Rio Tinto may be resulting in diamond breakage,” a media release issued by Star Diamond this week stated.

The company added comprehensive studies would be required to deduce if Rio Tinto’s methods are damaging potentially larger diamonds.

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The future of the Project Falcon diamond project as a large mining operation in the coming years may be dependent on the success of new technologies being used by Rio Tinto. The huge trench cutting rig which extracts ore in slices to depths to 250 metres, along with the specialized on-site bulk sampling plant are both aimed at extracting huge amounts of kimberlites without causing excessive damage to the diamonds locked within.

Star Diamond said the average grade of the diamonds recovered so far was in line with expectations based on previous sampling in 2004 and 2009. The three largest diamonds recovered to date are 3.27, 3.03 and 1.73 carats respectively.

Bags of kimberlite with the diamonds trapped within. The initial results from the first trench cut at Project Falcon indicates diamonds are being damaged as part of the extraction or processing stage, according to Star Diamond. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

The results of bulk samples taken from the nine other trenches last year have not yet been released by the independent laboratory responsible for the analysis.

paNOW contacted Rio Tinto for comment regarding the preliminary bulk sample results and Star Diamond’s reference to diamond breakage, but they did not offer a response.

A company spokesman provided the following brief comment.

“Processing has been successfully completed of samples from the first trench drilled at the Falcon project. We are continuing our 2020 work program, to process samples from a further nine trenches.”

Star Diamond is suing Rio Tinto claiming its partner had used its significant financial resources… “and engaged in bad faith predatory practices …with a view of diluting Star Diamond’s interest in the properties.” Rio Tinto denies the allegations, and is countersuing Star Diamond for what it claims is their improper retention of the mineral dispositions and surface rights. The matter was heard in court in Saskatoon June 29 and 30. The judge has yet to offer a ruling.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow