Miner Looking to Explore Argyle ‘Runoff’

RAPAPORT… Australian miner Odessa Minerals has applied for two licenses to explore an alluvial deposit south of the defunct Argyle mine, believing it holds diamond “runoff” from the famed site.

The Argyle South area is a 40-kilometer channel that carried diamonds from eroded Argyle kimberlite pipes through multiple drainage systems toward Lake Argyle, Odessa said last week. Previous exploration of the region revealed diamonds in 25 of the 27 bulk samples taken. However, the project wasn’t pursued at the time due to subdued diamond prices, Odessa explained.

So far, the miner has found rough diamonds ranging from 1 to 6 millimeters, in clear to smoky cognac colors, but thinks there could be other, more important hues.

“As the source is Argyle, it is presumed that the alluvial channels have the potential to also host Argyle pink diamonds,” the company said.

The project is Odessa’s first foray into the East Kimberley region. It also operates deposits in West Kimberley, including the Aries Kimberlite Pipes and the Ellendale Diamond Fields.

Image: Rough diamonds found at the Argyle South alluvial area. (Odessa Minerals)