13 May 2019
North Arrow Minerals Inc. is pleased to provide an update on its 100% owned Naujaat Diamond Project, Nunavut, including the Q1-4 kimberlite diamond deposit, located only 9 km from the coastal community of Naujaat.
North Arrow is currently planning for collection of a 10,000 tonne bulk sample from the Q1-4 deposit and, as part of this work, has initiated an engineering design and costing study of a small-scale mobile diamond recovery plant. The purpose of the bulk sample will be to evaluate diamond size distribution and value characteristics, with emphasis on a distinct population of high-value, fancy, yellow to orangey-yellow diamonds that have been identified in the deposit. North Arrow has engaged Imilingo Mineral Processing of Pretoria, South Africa, TOMRA, and Microlithics Laboratories of Thunder Bay, Ontario to investigate modular diamond recovery design options incorporating TOMRA’s X-Ray transmission (XRT) sorting technology with a view to recovering diamonds greater than 3 mm (nominally > 0.5 carat) in size.
Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow, stated, “We are pleased to be working with Imilingo, TOMRA and Microlithics to study diamond recovery plant design options for use in our continued evaluation of the Q1-4 diamond deposit. Over the last number of years, TOMRA’s XRT sorting technology has changed the diamond mining landscape by providing an X-Ray transmission sorting solution that improves diamond recoveries while reducing breakage and water use compared to more traditional diamond recovery circuits. We believe XRT sorting technology can also be used for the evaluation of diamond deposits and is an ideal recovery solution for the Q1-4 diamond population. Locating a small-scale diamond recovery plant at or near the project site will also reduce costs, improve logistics and increase local employment and business opportunities for the residents of Naujaat.”