ACN 078 606 434Level 3 46 Ord Street, West Perth 6005, PO Box...

ACN 078 606 434
Level 3 46 Ord Street, West Perth 6005, PO Box 1153 West Perth 6872
Tel+61 (08) 9483 3500 Fax+61 (08) 9483 3599
Email [email protected] Website www.bonaparte.com.au
ASX RELEASE 12 August 2005 MARINE DIAMOND EXPLORATION PROGRAMME COMPLETED Bonaparte Diamond Mines NL has today completed its first phase sampling programme in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. The Bonaparte Seabed Sampler (BoSS) and materials processing system fitted aboard the MV Pacific Challenger operated successfully in a full range of tidal conditions. To date no diamonds have been recovered from the concentrate samples. A total of 327 individual sample “bites” with an approximate surface area of 1.1m2 were recovered from the seabed at 117 locations over the Lacrosse Scour Basin, offshore from the Cambridge Gulf. The seabed sampling programme was conducted over 24 days onsite and tested a total sample area of approximately 370m2 with a total volume of approximately 239m3 (431 tons at a specific gravity of 1.8) of sediment. From the seabed material obtained, approximately 39m3 (70 tons at specific gravity of 1.8) of gravel (1.5 – 12mm size fraction) was screened out and retained for x-ray processing onboard. The company was encouraged by the repeated recovery of gravels at the northern end of the Lacrosse Scour Basin with gravel compositions of a fluvial origin. The gravel clasts comprised residual gravels including rounded vein quartz and agate as well as sub to well rounded jasper, quartzite and locally derived calcareous gravels in concentrations ranging from up to 80% at some locations. Processing of three samples remains to be completed. Two samples will be processed onboard later today and one plant feed audit sample will be processed in Perth in due course along with further assessment of the x-ray concentrate material. The programme has successfully demonstrated the presence of fluvial gravels at the northern end of the Lacrosse Scour Basin. Further sampling in areas to the north and west of the basin had been programmed however the programme was terminated four days earlier than planned due to an electric motor malfunction on the processing plant. The charter vessel will now transit to Darwin for completion of demobilisation on 18th August. The technical capabilities of the BoSS and materials processing system have been successfully demonstrated and the Company anticipates the Bonaparte seabed sampling and processing plant will be shipped to Namibia, while results of the 2005 sampling campaign in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf are evaluated for future planning and consideration. Ted Ellyard, Chairman of Bonaparte Diamond Mines NL commented, “Although we are disappointed that the first phase exploration programme did not recover marine diamonds, we are encouraged by the operational efficiency of the sampling system. The Bonaparte designed seabed sampler successfully recovered large quantities of gravels in extreme tidal conditions. The operational success of the programme is primarily due to the experienced team of technical and operational personnel led by our Managing Director, Mike Woodborne, and their efforts in difficult conditions are appreciated.
The Bonaparte Gulf exploration programme satisfactorily tested its two principal objectives of determining the extent and thickness of target fluvial gravels and their diamond content in the areas tested. Bonaparte will now plan to re-mobilise the successfully proven sampling system to Africa for use in its offshore Namibian project areas during the summer period when marine conditions are optimal.” For further information Dennis Wilkins Finance Director Bonaparte Diamond Mines NL + 61 8 9483 3500