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The Hearne Northwest Extension was identified in late 2021 when a kimberlite exposure (25 meters across) was encountered in a lower bench face during routine mining operations. Drilling programs in 2022 indicated that a significant volume of previously unknown kimberlite could exist, with ten of sixteen drillholes reported kimberlite intersections up to 114 meters in the extension (see news releases,
"These latest results at Hearne confirm that a significant volume of kimberlite exists in the Northwest Extension. Combined with our earlier results, we now have 21 drillholes that define the extension below the final pit and to the northwest. We are actively engaged with our operating partner De Beers to look at ways to recover this deeper kimberlite by underground mining."
In the present program, seven drillholes were collared outside of the pit and four were collared on kimberlite within the pit to test the width and depth of the extension respectively. A summary of the latest drilling results is provided below.
Drill Hole | Azimuth2 | Inclination2 | Kimberlite Intersect1,2 (m) | Initial | End of | ||
From | To | Length1 | Rock ID2 | ||||
Hearne Northwest Extension | |||||||
MPV-23-609C | 230 | -60 | 366.50 | 423.80 | 57.30 | HK/HKt | 477 |
MPV-23-610C | 269 | -53 | 340.31 | 390.84 | 50.53 | HK | 428 |
MPV-23-611C | 208 | -51 | 354.20 | 392.74 | 38.543 | HK/HKt | 441 |
MPV-23-612C4 | 257 | -50 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 402 |
MPV-23-613C5 | 201 | -86 | 0.00 | 133.02 | 133.02 | HKt/HK | 290 |
154.66 | 263.50 | 108.843 | HK/HKt/TK | ||||
MPV-23-614C5 | 257 | -70 | 2.85 | 69.67 | 66.82 | HKt/HK | 138 |
MPV-23-615C5 | 90 | -76 | 2.30 | 121.69 | 119.393 | HK/HKt/TK | 147 |
MPV-23-616C5 | 94 | -87 | 0.00 | 78.08 | 78.08 | HK/HKt | 201 |
128.23 | 161.70 | 33.47 | TK | ||||
178.15 | 179.26 | 1.11 | TKt | ||||
MPV-23-627C | 37 | -60 | 410.84 | 433.52 | 22.68 | HK/HKt | 513 |
MPV-23-631C6 | 267 | -73 | 529.53 | 533.40 | --6 | TK/Hkt | --6 |
MPV-23-633C | 150 | -71 | 245.60 | 533.20 | 287.60 | TK/TKt/Hkt/HK | 565 |
Tuzo Kimberlite | |||||||
MPV-23-632C | 150 | -71 | 669.77 | 710.00 | 40.23 | TKt/Hkt | --6 |
1Intersects are not true thicknesses. 2Initial measurements and rock ID may change with further logging. 3Includes minor intervals of country rock and/or xenoliths. 4Highly fractured and altered granite from 340.53-369.00m. 5Collared in pit on kimberlite. 6Drilling still active. (HK = hypabyssal kimberlite; TK = fragmental kimberlite; HKt = hypabyssal kimberlite transitional to TK; TKt = fragmental kimberlite transitional to HK.) |
The drillhole locations and traces for this phase of drilling are shown as red lines in the images below, with previous drill traces shown as gray lines. Drillholes within the pit are shown as red circles. Insets show the shape of Hearne prior to discovery of the extension. The internal geology of Hearne is shown with blue indicating hypabyssal kimberlite (HK/HKt) and yellow and green indicating fragmental kimberlite (TK/TKt). The modeled outer contacts and internal geology for the Northwest Extension are speculative at this time and will be adjusted as the results of detailed logging and analysis are received.
Following on the discovery and delineation of the Hearne Northwest Extension, drilling to look for a similar extension has been started at Tuzo. Limited historical drilling at Tuzo has confirmed kimberlite to a vertical depth of over 700 meters.
Based on the northeast-directed downward ramping of the 5034 kimberlite and its proximity to Tuzo, a single drillhole was collared east of Tuzo to test for a northeast extension. The image below shows the relationship of drillhole MPV-23-632C to the 5034, Tuzo and Wilson kimberlites.
Drillhole MPV-23-632C intersected TKt/HKt kimberlite from 669.77-710.00 meters, and is located roughly 40 meters northeast of the Tuzo kimberlite. The kimberlite phase in Tuzo that is nearest to the intersect is modeled also as TKt (shown in yellow in the image). Logging and mineral chemistry of the drill core is underway to confirm whether it is similar in detail to Tuzo.
"While the drilling for Tuzo is early stage and is still underway, we are encouraged by the width of the kimberlite intersection and its similarities to Tuzo based on initial logging. We and our partner De Beers will consider further drilling if the detailed work on this hole continues to return positive results."
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