De Beers mining company has terminated a drilling project looking for potential diamond mines in Athabasca, and returned control of the project to CanAlaska Uranium Ltd.
De Beers began surveying the area in northern Saskatchewan about a year ago, after Canadian and Saskatchewan Geological Surveys determined it was highly likely to find diamonds in the area. According to CanAlaska president and CEO Peter Dasler, De Beers discovered 85 different areas with 300 target spots where diamonds could be found. The mining company drilled into seven sites, uncovering a “black mud” with magnetic properties. Dasler said that finding was very unusual and the organic material has been sent to the Saskatchewan Research Council and McMaster University for research and analysis.
“The strange event of finding magnetic minerals in this black mud in two or three locations made everyone sit back and say ‘What is going on?’” Dasler said.
De Beers cancelled their drilling program last week, giving 100 per cent control back to CanAlaska.
“We would have liked them to drill a few more (of the targets),” Dasler said. “There are targets that look different to what they have drilled.”
Dasler said CanAlaska will continue to sort through the targets to determine if there are diamonds in the area. He added that other companies have already expressed an interest in the mining options and that De Beers indicated it would be interested in rejoining the project in the future.
“Northwest Athabasca has more to offer than just uranium exploration,” he said.
