News Release: March 25th, 2002
Survey of ATW Property
Indicator Mineral
Chemistry Completed
Results of microprobe analyses performed on
indicator minerals from sampling of the glacial dispersion train
on the ATW property, NWT have recently been received by the company
from Kennecott Canada Inc. Mineral Services Canada Inc. (Mineral
Services), a subsidiary of Mineral Services International of
which Dr. John Gurney is chairman, has reviewed these microprobe
results. A plot of Cr2O3 verses CaO for kimberlitic garnets from
the till sampling will be posted on the company's website (www.almadenminerals.com).
The following is an excerpt from the summary of the report provided
from Mineral Services:
"A prominent kimberlitic indicator dispersion
has been traced up-ice in till samples over a distance of 20
km, and was found by drill sampling to continue in MacKay Lake
sediments for a further 3 km, leading to geophysical target ATW-02.
The available kimberlitic indicator mineral analyses from this,
the MacKay Lake dispersion, comprises 74 olivines, 18 orthopyroxenes,
127 clinopyroxenes and 198 garnets, but no kimberlitic ilmenite
or chromite. The compositional characteristics of this indicator
assemblage show it to be derived from kimberlite source(s) that
have entrained predominantly diamond-stable mantle peridotite
along a cold cratonic geotherm similar to that defined by garnet
peridotite xenoliths in the Diavik kimberlites. Various samples
show this indicator assemblage contains from 16 to 20% G10 garnets,
with moderate-Cr2O3 G10 garnets well represented. Based on available
data, and assuming that these data are representative of the
samples from which they are derived, the source kimberlite(s)
are predicted to be at least moderately diamond-bearing. A more
definitive assessment of their diamond potential cannot currently
be made due to the fact that: eclogitic garnet compositions are
not reported; the extent to which the available data are representative
of the full indicator mineral population present in the tills
and sediments or in specific source bodies is not known; and
several critical kimberlite-specific mineralization factors have
yet to be determined.
Kimberlitic garnet, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene
recovered from a composite core sample of the TR107 kimberlite
reveal compositions quite unlike that seen in exploration samples
on the rest of the MacKay Lake property. The TR107 kimberlite
apparently sampled essentially only graphite-stable mantle peridotite
on an elevated geothermal gradient. The kimberlite core sample
is assigned zero diamond potential and it manifestly does not
correlate with the intrinsically higher diamond potential of
the vast majority of kimberlitic indicator minerals recovered
from the property."
At present a diamond drill program is underway
on the ATW project, designed to test for kimberlite within prominent
geophysical anomalies spatially associated with the kimberlitic
indicator mineral train. The ATW project is located roughly equidistant
between the Diavik and Snap Lake diamond deposits. Almaden Minerals
Ltd. has a 40% interest in ATW Resources Ltd., which has a 75%
interest in the ATW project. The remaining 25% interest in the
property is held by Aber Diamond Corporation and SouthernEra
Resources Limited., which hold a 15% and a 10% interest respectively.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Duane Poliquin
The Toronto Stock Exchange
has not reviewed nor accepted responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been
prepared by management. Statements contained in this news release
that are not historical facts are forward looking statements
as that term is defined in the private securities litigation
reform act of 1995. Such forward -looking statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to
differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties
are detailed in the Company's filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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