I have used ASTER for the Pilbara and Brooking, and I have found the datasets very useful. It’s available from the DMIRS for free so we are somewhat spoiled here in Oz.
The satellite imagery, which was developed by Japan, is great as a regional tool but I think our aeromag and TDEM surveys are more beneficial for the confines of the Lulo concession.
IMO, for ASTER to be beneficial for us at Lulo, it would need to cover an area large enough to include the Kwango (Cuango) basin.
I appreciate the fact that LOM has highlighted the Catoca mine on many occasions, but, unlike Lulo, Catoca is not part of the Kwango basin. In fact, where Catoca sits, the entire drainage system runs in a northerly direction, whereas the Kwango basin runs in a westerly direction.
I’ve done limited research into dating the faults, but I believe that the major faults pre dates the emplacement of the kimberlites, and like I said during the week, there is definitely a relationship between major faults and kimberlite pipes.
I also mentioned the other day that the Cassanje Graben runs perpendicular to the Lucapa Graben. Thus, the Lulo concession is on a double depression, and IMO the Cassanje Graben created the Kwango basin, and the Lulo concession is located close to the upper elevation of the basin.
One could assume that the primary sources of all the alluvial diamonds within the Kwango basin are located within the basin. So, taking Lulo’s location within the basin into account AND the fact that Lulo has the highest average size alluvial diamonds within the basin, IMHO it’s highly likely that Lulo hosts the source.
Forget about ASTER mate - best off spending your money on more LOM stock, IMHO.
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