The Chidliak Joint Venture (51% BHP Billiton, 49% Peregrine Diamonds Ltd.) has approved a $17.7-million 2011 exploration program on its 8,580-km2 Chidliak project on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. Since 2008, 50 kimberlites have been discovered on the project, with seven of these having characteristics consistent with economic potential in Arctic settings. Pere-
grine is the operator of the 2011 program, and field work has commenced.
Up to 13,000 m of core and reverse circulation drilling are planned during 2011. A mini-bulk sample of about 5 mt will be collected by core drilling the CH-31 kimberlite, and a mini-bulk sample of 20 mt will be collected from the surface of the CH-28 kimberlite. Geophysical work will include a 12,000 line-km RESOLVE heli-borne magnetic-electromagnetic survey. Ground geophysical surveys will be conducted over anomalies selected from 2008, 2010 and 2011 airborne geophysical surveys. Indicator mineral sampling, ground geophysics and prospecting are ongoing. (24 of the 50 currently known kimberlites have been discovered at surface by prospecting.) Environmental baseline studies will be continued. (www.pdiam.com)
