TORONTO
DFI.TO
0,03 CA$
-40,00%
Atlantis II Zinc, Copper and Silver Deposit Update
Publié le 16 août 2010
=======================================================================
Re: News Release - Monday, August 16, 2010
Atlantis II Zinc, Copper and Silver Deposit Update
=======================================================================
Vancouver, Canada. August 16, 2010: Diamond Fields International
Ltd.(DFI:TSX) ("DFI" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a further
update on the Atlantis II Red Sea Deeps project, widely acknowledged as
the largest known poly-metallic marine SEDEX deposit in the world (see
DFI press release dated 4th June 2010). DFI is developing the project
with its Saudi joint venture partner Manafa International.
The Atlantis II basin containing the Atlantis II deposit is located in
the Red Sea, approximately 115 km west of Jeddah. The Atlantis basin is
comprised of four interlinked sub-basins lying approximately 2,000
meters below sea level. Base and precious metal mineralisation
contained within the sediments have attracted considerable exploration
interest since their discovery in 1965. It is estimated that more than
US $28 million (in 1970's dollars) was spent on exploring the deposit.
The historical work has shown the economic potential of the deposit by
evidencing extensive and continuous mineralisation of zinc, copper,
silver, gold, lead, and other metals.
In the mid 1970's, the Saudi-Sudanese Red Sea Commission (RSC) was
established with the directive of assessing the economic potential of
these resources. Preussag A.G., a German exploration company, was
commissioned by the RSC to conduct a five-year geological exploration
program and technical feasibility study. This process concluded in
1982 with positive results. Together with Manafa, DFI has obtained the
documented records and hard data generated during the study, and have
located the original Preussag sediment cores. DFI is analyzing the data
and modelling the deposit using the latest technology, and otherwise
moving forward with the preliminary steps necessary to develop the
project.
The Preussag coring program on average sampled only the uppermost 8.5
metres of the sedimentary sequences. The program demonstrated that
mineralisation is open at depth and extended over an area of
approximately 57km2. Composited one metre core assays showed a
variable grade in the top 7-11 meters of sediments, with high grade
areas yielding results up to 20.1% zinc, 3.6% copper and 338 ppm
silver. The underlying sediments were also shown to be mineralised in
all of the samples that were taken extending into this unit. The
thickness of these underlying sediments is currently unknown, but high
resolution seismic studies undertaken by Preussag suggest that it may
attain thicknesses of up to 28 meters.
Deep tow seismic data commissioned as part of the Atlantis II
investigation indicates that sediments in some parts of the Atlantis
basin may attain a total thickness of up to160 metres. The composition
of these deeper sediments is currently unknown, but they offer
potential to host a further significant resource. On the basis of the
data from the Preussag study, the Company estimates that only a minor
portion of infilling sediments contained within the Atlantis II Deeps
have been sampled.
A historical resource figure based on 587 core samples taken only from
the uppermost unit and the first meter of the underlying sediments
(average 8.3 meters thickness) estimated the deposit to contain 89.5
million tonnes of sediment at a grade of 2.06% Zinc, 0.45% Copper and
38.4ppm Silver on a dry salt free basis ("DSF"). The Company has not
done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current
mineral resources. Accordingly the Company is not treating the
historical estimate as current mineral resources, and the historical
estimate should not be relied upon.
A pre pilot test mining study undertaken by Preussag successfully
demonstrated that the mineralised mud of the Atlantis II Deeps can be
continuously mined and concentrated at sea, using conventional
flotation techniques. During test mining operations, 15,000 m3 of sea
floor sediments and brines from four test sites in the Atlantis II
basin were processed. Metal grades derived from this operation proved
to be higher than those predicted by the Preussag resource modeling,
with grades varying from 2.51% - 4.91 zinc, 0.47%- 4.91% copper and
59.43 ppm -- 111.24 ppm silver (DSF).
"The potential of the Atlantis II deposit is vast and represents the
largest known polymetallic SEDEX marine ore body in the world" said Ian
Ransome, DFI's Chief Executive Officer.
The geological information in this press release has been reviewed by
Mr. Ian Ransome (BSc Hons) Pri.Sci,Nat who is a qualified person in
terms of N43-101 regulations.
DIAMOND FIELDS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
"Ian Ransome"
Ian Ransome, Chief Executive Officer
For further information, contact Ian Ransome at +1 604 685 9911.
Website: www.diamondfields.com
Support for the historical geological data for this Release came from
the Atlantis II Red Sea data and reports generated by Pressaug AG and
from the following sources:
Blanc, and Anschutz, 1995. New stratification in the hydrothermal
brine system of the Atlantis II Deep, Red Sea. Geology.1995; 23:
543-546
Guney M., Nawab Z., and Mahoun N.A., 1984: Atlantis II Deep's Metal
Reserves and their Evaluation. OTC 4780, 16th Ann. Offshore Technology
Conf. Texas.
Herzig P.M., Holroyd, R. Hardman, M. Osmaston, J. A. Karson, R. S.
White and K. Rohr, 1999; Economic Potential of Sea-Floor Massive
Sulphide Deposits: Ancient and Modern [and Discussion]. The Royal
Society.
Herzig, P.M., Petersen S., and Hannington M.D., 2002: Polymetallic
Massive Sulphide deposits at the Sea Floor and their Resource
Potential. In Polymetallic Massive Sulphides and Cobalt-Rich
Ferromanganese Crust: Status and Prospects. International Seabed
Authority Tech. Rep. No. 2.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are
subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific
factors identified in Diamond Fields' periodic filings with Canadian
Securities Regulators. Such forward-looking information represents
management's best judgment based on information currently available. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results
may vary materially. Diamond Fields does not assume the obligation to
update any forward-looking statement.
=======================================================================
Copyright (c) 2010 DIAMOND FIELDS INTERNATIONAL LTD. (DFI) All rights
reserved. For more information visit our website at
http://www.diamondfields.com/ or send mailto:enquire@diamondfields.com
=======================================================================
.
Les autres articles de la compagnie