Canada based diamond exploration company North Arrow Minerals Inc announced that exploratory drilling at the Pikoo Diamond Project in central eastern Saskatchewan has commenced. Approximately 3,000 m of drilling is planned to be completed by the end of March.

The 2015 Pikoo exploration drilling programme is being conducted under an 80% (North Arrow) / 20% (Stornoway) participating joint venture arrangement.

The drilling phase is a follow up on diamond bearing kimberlite discoveries made in 2013 and as well as for testing new targets defined by the 2014 till sampling programme.

The first diamonds were discovered at the site in 2013 after kimberlite was identified in 9 of 10 drill holes, including PK150. The testing found 745 diamonds larger than the 0.106 mm sieve size, including 23 diamonds greater than the 0.85 mm sieve size in a sample of 209.7 kg.

After this confirmation of a good kimberlite source, the company carried out follow up exploration in 2014, collecting 560 till samples in an effort to better define existing kimberlite indicator mineral (KIM) trains and to identify new target areas within the property.  This exercise helped identify five new KIM trains.

Besides the Pikoo Project, North Arrow is also currently processing a 1500 tonne bulk sample from the Qilalugaq Project (NU) and evaluating each of the Redemption (NWT), Lac de Gras (NWT), Mel (NU), Luxx (NU) and Timiskaming (ON/QC) Diamond Projects.

Pic: Drill being installed on site at Pikoo Project