TIDMFDI 
 
RNS Number : 5782P 
Firestone Diamonds PLC 
27 March 2009 
 

Firestone Diamonds plc 
Tsabong project update 
 
 
LONDON: 27 March 2009 
 
 
Firestone Diamonds plc, ("Firestone" or "the Company"), the AIM-quoted diamond 
mining and exploration company (ticker: AIM:FDI), today announces results from 
bulk sampling at its Tsabong kimberlite project in Botswana.  The Tsabong 
kimberlite field contains 85 kimberlites, including the 180 hectare MK1 
kimberlite, which is one of the largest diamondiferous kimberlites in the world. 
 
 
HIGHLIGHTS: 
 
 
· Macrodiamonds recovered from 5 of 6 kimberlites sampled 
· Good results from MK1 
- 21 macrodiamonds recovered 
- good indicator mineral chemistry received 
· Encouraging results from MK38 
· Joint venture discussions at an advanced stage 
 
 
Of the fourteen high interest kimberlites that have been identified at Tsabong, 
six were sampled using a large diameter drill ("LDD") rig in 2008. Processing of 
these samples has been completed, and results are encouraging, with 
macrodiamonds being recovered from five kimberlites. 
 
 
With eight more high interest kimberlites awaiting bulk sampling, a further 71 
kimberlites to evaluate and the likelihood of new discoveries being made with 
over 80 known geophysical drill targets, the Company continues to believe that 
the Tsabong kimberlite field has significant economic potential. 
 
 
In December 2008 the Company announced that it intended to focus its resources 
on more advanced projects that were closer to cash flow, such as BK11, and that 
it would consider the introduction of a joint venture partner to finance further 
work on Tsabong.  Interest in the project has been high and negotiations are 
currently underway with a number of potential joint venture partners. 
 
 
Philip Kenny, CEO of Firestone Diamonds, commented:  "We consider Tsabong to be 
one of the most attractive large scale diamond exploration and evaluation 
projects in the market. The results of the work that we have carried out are 
encouraging and we believe that the project has the potential to contain 
significant economic deposits.  The project has attracted substantial interest 
from potential joint venture partners despite the recent downturn in the rough 
diamond market, and we look forward to continuing work on Tsabong with a new 
partner later in 2009." 
 
 
MK1 
MK1 produced the best results, yielding 21 macrodiamonds, all clear, white 
gemstones. Nineteen of these diamonds came from the deeper of the two LDD holes 
drilled.  When combined with the recovery of 252 microdiamonds from core 
drilling in 2008, from which a macrodiamond grade estimate of 25 carats per 
hundred tonnes ("cpht") was made, and recent analyses of indicator mineral 
chemistry, these results support the Company's belief that MK1 has significant 
economic potential and that further evaluation work is warranted. 
 
 
MK38 
Two LDD holes were drilled on MK38, but both were terminated at a depth of 150m 
due to difficult drilling conditions being encountered. The high interest zone 
in MK38 was not sampled as a result. The recovery of six macrodiamonds from the 
small amount of shallow material that was sampled is considered very 
encouraging. Previous analysis of the size frequency distribution of 
microdiamonds recovered from MK38 indicated a potential macrodiamond grade of 25 
to 30 cpht.  Deeper LDD holes will be drilled on MK38 when work at Tsabong 
resumes. 
 
 
MK51, MK52 and MK84 
Two diamonds were recovered from MK51 and one from each of MK52 and MK84. While 
it does not appear that these kimberlites have economic potential, these results 
prove that diamond mineralisation occurs across multiple kimberlites in the 
Tsabong field. 
 
 
MK45 
MK45 did not produce any diamonds despite the very abundant presence of 
kimberlitic indicator minerals in the material sampled, which are typically 
correlated with diamond mineralisation.  Further analysis is required to 
determine whether more LDD drilling is warranted on MK45. 
 
 
LDD results 
Results from processing of each of the LDD holes drilled are provided below: 
 
 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| Kimberlite |  Hole ID  |   Depth    | Sample size  |Macrodiamonds  | 
|            |           |  sampled   |  (Tonnes)    |  recovered    | 
|            |           |    (m)     |              |               | 
+------------+-----------+------------+--------------+---------------+ 
|            |           |From  | To  |              |               | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK1        |  MK1-301  | 184  |404  |     142      |      2        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK1        |  MK1-302  | 125  |515  |     251      |      19       | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK38       | MK38-301  |  99  |137  |      27      |      5        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK38       | MK38-302  |  90  |150  |      43      |      1        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK45       | MK45-301  |  68  |312  |     160      |      0        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK51       | MK51-301  |  75  |252  |     114      |      2        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK52       | MK52-301  |  84  |344  |     167      |      1        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
| MK84       | MK84-301  |  30  |315  |     183      |      1        | 
+------------+-----------+------+-----+--------------+---------------+ 
 
 
For further information, visit the Company's web site at 
www.firestonediamonds.com, or contact: 
 
 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Philip Kenny, Firestone Diamonds    | +44 20 8834 1028/+44 7831 324    | 
|                                     | 645                              | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Jos Simson/Gareth Tredway, Conduit  | +44 20 7429 6603/+44 7899 870    | 
| PR                                  | 450                              | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Mike Jones/Ryan Gaffney, Canaccord  | +44 020 7050 6500                | 
| Adams (Joint Broker)                |                                  | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Jerry Keen, Blue Oar (Joint Broker) | +44 20 7448 4492/+44 777 069     | 
|                                     | 7358                             | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Alexander Dewar, Brewin Dolphin     | +44 131 529 0276                 | 
| (Nominated Adviser)                 |                                  | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
 
 
Background information on Firestone Diamonds: 
AIM quoted Firestone Diamonds plc ("FDI.L") is an international diamond mining 
and exploration company with operations in Botswana and South Africa. Botswana 
is the world's largest and lowest cost producer of diamonds, with annual 
production worth over $2.5 billion, and is considered to be one of the most 
prospective countries in the world to explore for diamonds. 
 
 
Firestone is the largest holder of mineral rights in Botswana's diamondiferous 
kimberlite fields, controlling over 29,000 square kilometres around the major 
Orapa and Jwaneng mines and the entire Tsabong kimberlite field. Firestone has 
95 kimberlites in its portfolio, of which 24 have been proven to be 
diamondiferous. Sixteen of Firestone's kimberlites are at the bulk sampling 
stage, of which BK11 is the most advanced. 
 
 
Note: 
The information in this statement has been reviewed by Mr. Tim Wilkes, B Sc, Pr 
Sci Nat, who is a qualified person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note for 
Mining, Oil and Gas Companies. Mr. Wilkes is Chief Operating Officer of 
Firestone Diamonds plc and has over 27 years experience in diamond exploration, 
mineral resource management and mining.  Mr. Wilkes is a member of the 
sub-committee for diamonds of the South African Mineral Resource Committee 
(SAMREC). 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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