Motapa Diamonds Inc (fka MTP)

[EnergyGuy62]

Motapa Reports Bulk Sample and Drilling Results, Mothae Project, Lesotho

9:00 AM ET, April 27, 2009
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Apr 27, 2009 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- Motapa Diamonds Inc (MTP) and partner Lucara Diamond Corp. (LUC) are pleased to report completion of diamond recovery work on the 100,000 tonne bulk sample program at the Mothae sample project in Lesotho. Processing of 15,390 dry tonnes of sample F1C, together with an audit of recovery tailings from this sample and samples C2C, G1C and E1A was completed in mid-April.

Sample F1C has yielded 1,519 stones for a total of 715.79 carats for a sample grade of 4.65 carats per hundred dry tonnes (cpht). F1C produced 48 stones greater than than 2 carats, 13 stones greater than 5 carats and 1 stone greater than 20 carats. The average size of stones recovered from the sample is 0.47 carats per stone and the largest three diamonds recovered are 24.60, 14.39 and 14.24 carats.

Complete results for the bulk sampling program are shown in the following table. These results reflect the recovered grade of kimberlite material sampled and not necessarily an overall grade of the Mothae pipe. The relative volume of each kimberlite domain within the Mothae pipe and the extent to which the domains are represented by their respective samples is poorly constrained and further geologic interpretation will be required to develop a grade model for the pipe.
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Kimberlite               Wet     Dry    # of     Total   Carats/   Dry
Domain      Sample    Tonnes  Tonnes  Stones    Carats    Stone  Grade
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A           A1A        5,341   4,565     372    129.83     0.35   2.84
            -----------------------------------
            Subtotal   5,341   4,565     372    129.83     0.35   2.84
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  C1A  2,035   1,837  90  27.86  0.31   1.52
            C2A        5,023   4,164     310    117.11     0.38   2.81
C           C2B        1,936   1,617     211     75.47     0.36   4.67
            C2C        9,965   8,192     681    380.85     0.56   4.67
            C3A        9,569   7,781     750    301.22     0.40   3.87
            -----------------------------------
            Subtotal  28,529  23,592   2,042    902.51     0.44   3.83
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E           E1A        5,363   4,338     255     99.61     0.39   2.30
            -----------------------------------
            Subtotal   5,363   4,338     255     99.61     0.39   2.30
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            F1         7,470   6,274   1,162    444.26     0.38   7.08
F           F1C       18,753  15,390   1,519    715.79     0.47   4.65
            -----------------------------------
            Subtotal  26,223  21,664   2,681  1,160.05     0.43   5.35
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            G1         7,341   6,199   1,007    408.07     0.41   6.58
G           G1C       27,162  21,970   2,529  1,166.97     0.46   5.31
            -----------------------------------
            Subtotal  34,503  28,169   3,536  1,575.04     0.45   5.59
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ALL SAMPLES           99,959  82,328   8,886  3,867.04     0.44   4.70
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Diamonds recovered from the bulk sample include 217 stones greater than 2 carats, 63 stones greater than 5 carats, 13 stones greater that 10 carats, and 5 stones greater than 20 carats. The five largest diamonds weigh 24.60, 23.39, 22.71, 22.62 and 20.04 carats.

All samples were processed through a dense media separation (DMS) plant designed to recover diamonds in various size fractions ranging from 2 mm to 18 mm. Heavy mineral concentrate produced by the DMS plant was processed over a continuous grease belt for primary diamond recovery, with the exception of the very coarse fraction (+16 mm) which was hand sorted in a secure glove box. All grease belt tailings material was processed through an EVE X-ray diamond recovery unit.

A formal valuation of recovered diamonds is planned for June.

Delineation Drilling Results:

The results of a fifteen hole, 2,452 meter core drilling program completed in early February have been used as a basis for geological modelling of the Mothae kimberlite.

Results of this work, in combination with kimberlite bulk density estimates derived from drill core measurements, provide a global tonnage estimate to a depth of 200 meters below the base of overburden of 38.62 million tonnes.

Of this tonnage, the southern lobe of the Mothae pipe, which shows the greatest potential in terms of diamond grade, contains an estimated 23.56 million tonnes.

At this stage of the evaluation, these tonnage figures indicate the geologic potential of the Mothae kimberlite and are not intended to imply a resource tonnage.

Modeled tonnage and diamond grade data will be used in conjunction with diamond value information and a recently completed conceptual mining study to support the submission of a mining license application to the Lesotho Government.

The sampling program is being carried out under the supervision of Dr. Tom Nowicki of Mineral Services Canada, a Qualified Person in terms of NI43-101.

On behalf of the Board
MOTAPA DIAMONDS INC.
Dr. Larry Ott, Chief Executive Officer

This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Motapa Diamonds Inc.
Motapa Diamonds Inc.
Dr. Larry Ott
Chief Executive Officer
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Web: www.motapadiamonds.com