Lucara Diamond Corp. ("Lucara" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:LUC) is pleased to
report that it has completed a resource update on its recently acquired AK6
kimberlite in Botswana. The AK6 kimberlite is subject to a mining license held
by Boteti Exploration (Pty) Ltd ("Boteti"). Lucara acquired a majority interest
in Boteti in December 2009. The resource update was conducted as part of an
ongoing feasibility study and concurrent with an independent NI 43-101 report
titled, "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the AK6 Kimberlite Project, Botswana" and
dated March 25, 2010, by The MSA Group ("MSA") of Johannesburg on the AK6
kimberlite which has been filed on SEDAR today.


The resource estimate has been compiled by Mr. Johannes Ferreria, a professional
geostatistician with 30 years experience in geostatistical modeling of diamond
deposits worldwide and a Qualified Person as that term is defined by National
Instrument 43-101.


The new resource update estimates an indicated resource of just over 51 million
tonnes at an average grade of 22 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) and an average
modeled diamond value of US$194 per carat, and an inferred resource of
approximately 20 million tonnes at an average grade of 19 cpht and an average
modeled diamond value of US$183 per carat.


The AK6 kimberlite is part of the Orapa/Letlhakane kimberlite district, one of
the world's most prolific diamond producing districts. AK6 is a trilobate pipe
consisting of a South, Centre and North lobes. The pipe has an area of 4.2
hectares at the surface which expands to 7 hectares at a depth of 120 meters.
The following table summarizes the new resource estimate:


AK6 Diamond Resource



Resource                           Tonnes    Grade - cpht           Modeled
Class          Pipe                (x1000)          (+1mm)    Value (US$/ct)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Indicated      Centre/North        11,100              26               223
(Surface                                                                   
to 400 m)      South               40,128              20               183
                                                                           
               Total               51,228              22               194
                                                                           
Inferred       Centre/North           208              20               223
(400m to                                                                   
750 m)         South               20,771              19               183
                                                                           
               Total               20,979              19               183



The resource estimate is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the AK6
kimberlite by Boteti between 2003 and 2007. This work was carried out by De
Beers Prospecting Botswana (Pty) Ltd. Tonnage estimates are based on 22,744
meters of delineation core drilling in 69 holes, which includes 23 holes (7,161
meters) drilled as pilot holes in advance of large diameter drilling conducted
for diamond grade sampling. Microdiamond analysis was carried out on core from
the pilot hole program.


Large diameter (23 inch) flood reverse circulation drilling was carried out on
an approximate 50 meter x 50 meter grid across the AK6 pipe to evaluate
macrodiamond grade. Twenty six large diameter holes were completed with two
holes achieving depths of 700 and 702 meters respectively. Drill cuttings from
25 of the 26 holes were processed for macrodiamond recovery, representing a
total of 7,264 meters and which sampled a total of 6,046 tonnes of kimberlite.
Large diameter drill samples were processed through a diamond recovery plant
using a 1 millimeter bottom cutoff size, and a total of 1,172.4 carats of
diamond were recovered. An additional 582.2 carats of diamond were recovered
from surface trench samples for valuation purposes.


Diamond value estimates are based on the recent valuation carried out by Mercury
Diamond and reported by Lucara in February 2010. MSA augmented the Mercury
Diamond valuation by incorporating microdiamond information into diamond size
frequency distribution to develop a more robust statistical model and to assess
observed diamond size variations between the Centre and North Lobes as compared
to the South Lobe.


Lucara is currently in the process of upgrading a conceptual mining study for
the Boteti project to a full feasibility study and this work is expected to be
completed in May 2010.


Mr. William Lamb, Lucara's President and Chief Operating Officer noted that:
"The completion of the resource update for Boteti is an important step in
finalizing the feasibility study for AK6. The resource tonnage and grade is
consistent with our initial assessment of this acquisition opportunity and the
improved diamond valuation enhances the robust economics of this project. On
completion of the feasibility study, Lucara will focus on a rapid transition
into project development and production."


Lucara holds a 70.3% interest in the Boteti project as a joint venture with
African Diamonds plc (28.3%) and Wati Ventures (Pty) Ltd. (1.4%). African
Diamonds plc has an option to acquire an additional 10.3% interest in the
project from Lucara for approximately US$7.0 million as well as an option to
acquire the interest held by Wati Ventures (Pty) Ltd. Lucara is the project
operator.


This release has been reviewed by Dr. Larry Ott, Lucara's vice president,
exploration, a Qualified Person as that term is defined by National Instrument
43-101.


On Behalf of the Board,

William Lamb, President and COO

Mesa Exploration (TSXV:MSA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Mesa Exploration Charts.
Mesa Exploration (TSXV:MSA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Mesa Exploration Charts.