Canadian diamond miner Star Diamond shared the results of a recent survey of its Star and the Orion South kimberlites, confirming the relative abundance of type IIa diamonds at these projects in central Saskatchewan.
Across the board, type IIa diamonds make up less than three percent of a diamond mine's production. Therefore, the results of this study conducted which estimate that 26.5 percent of the Star deposit and 12.5 percent of the Orion-South deposit are type IIa diamonds are highly unusual.
"The presence of a significant proportion of type IIa diamonds in the Star and Orion South kimberlites greatly increases the potential for the recovery of large (plus 100 carat), high-value diamonds," George Read, Star Diamond's senior vice president Exploration and Development, stated.
"Analysis of the Star and Orion South diamond evaluation parcels indicated a significant proportion of type IIa diamonds, some of which are top white in color," he added. Reportedly, the Star deposit produced a 49.09-carat stone and the Orion South deposit 32.35-carat stone. Earlier, Star sold a 11.96-carat type IIa diamond recovered at Star for $11,333 per carat and a 15.88-carat type IIa diamond from Orion South for $2,800 per carat.