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December 2009 The Monte Christo
bulk sampling pit MCR 26 at Bingara has been extended, revealing a network
of tunnels continuing to the west and south, and shown below. Three tunnels
are present in the far wall, and an old mined area supported by three
vertical timber props in the right hand wall. In total, sixty three diamonds and carbonados weighing 9.7 carats have recently been recovered by the Company from this old mine.
As the workings extend
only to the south and west, it appears the pit is dug on the very edge
of these former mine workings. The information in this report that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Peter John Kennewell, who is a corporate member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy included in a list promulgated by the ASX from time to time. Peter John Kennewell is a full time employee of Cluff Resources Pacific NL and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a competent person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Identified Mineral Resources, and Ore Reserves”. Peter John Kennewell consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Peter Kennewell
22 September
2009 Thirty diamonds have been recovered in the process of deepening Bulk Sampling Pit MCR 45 (over Hole MCR 26) to the interpreted second mining level at 13.5 metres. The diamonds came from the upper level, previously sampled but now exposed over a larger area, to further clarify what was mined. Unmined gravels from this level were extracted and processed, and the diamonds recovered are shown below.
The gravels were extracted from between the grey clay and the underlying brown sandstone, in the area between the two figures in the photograph below. They appear to be hardened gravels left by the former miners as a roof to the mined cavity, to support the overlying soft, pliable grey clay. The material processed contained about 30% of non diamond bearing overlying and underlying rocks. The extracted material
underlying these gravels still remains uncertain, but was probably less
hardened gravels, and may have contained higher diamond grades. Old timber
props demonstrate that the roof has now collapsed, as the roof has collapsed
into the mined area and left these strong timber props protruding upward
into the overlying clay.
Peter Kennewell
29 July
2009 The Directors of the
Company advise that the Non-Renounceable Rights Issue (‘the issue’), Scott Enderby
Old tunnels with wooden roof supports and backfilled with waste rock from the mining operation have been exposed on the former Monte Christo mining lease (ML 16) beneath drill hole MCR 26. Early this month this hole was interpreted as penetrating old workings between 5.9 to 7.8 metres. Bulk Sample Pit B MC 3 has been dug over this hole, and eleven gem quality diamonds have been recovered from a thirty tonne bulk sample). Total weight of diamonds recovered was 2.07 carats. Interestingly, two black stones together weighing 2.48 carats and tentatively identified as carbonado, a finely crystalline, porous form of diamond, were also recovered. These stones stuck to the grease table and tested as diamonds with the “Presidium Gem Tester”, which measures thermal conductivity, but left a red streak on a porcelain tile. Carbonado has been previously reported from the Inverell Diamond Fields Mine at Copeton. Small pieces of sapphire and topaz were also recovered.
The unmined remnants of the diamond bearing rocks were a poorly sorted sediment containing rounded polished jasper pebbles, fine sand, and several beds containing larger pieces of altered bedrock. The sample processed was extremely contaminated. The tunnels had taken out most of the diamond bearing rock, and as the old workings were not clearly apparent until the excavation was complete, this rock was again contaminated with underlying and overlying rubble. It is estimated that 10 to 20% of the rock trucked was diamond bearing, hence a grade cannot be determined. A deeper pit is planned to accurately sample this rock, and also to sample a lower level of workings, interpreted from Hole MCR 26 to be present in a 2.8 metre bed above the hard basement at 13.5 metres.
Peter Kennewell 2 July 2009 An underground mine has been identified by Cluff’s drilling at the Monte Christo Mining Lease, on the Bingara Diamond Field. Whilst drilling at a depth of 5.9 metres (20 feet) the wire line core barrel dropped 1.8 metres, 0.9 metres through an open hole, and another 0.9 metres through very soft mud interpreted as soft rock shovelled into a cavity. The cavity is interpreted as old mine workings. The hole (MCR 26) is located on the 20 acre Monte Christo mining lease, from which about 18,000 carats of diamonds were reported to have been produced at extremely high grades, initially at up to 5000 carats per hundred tones, but averaging 500 carats per hundred tones by 1903, according to NSW Mines Department records. Figure 1 shows the location of drill hole MCR 26, fifty metres south of Cluff’s open cut from which 1,400 carats of diamonds were recovered in the 1990s. This open cut mined tunnels stated by the NSW Mines Department to be the Monte Christo Mine (NSW Dept Mines Annual Report, 1894), but grades recovered were not consistent with Captain Rogers’ world-renowned Monte Christo Mine. Information for the maps was supplied to the Mines Department by a third party, however, and is now considered by Cluff to describe earlier workings on the lease. The hole was sited within a group of old shafts, to confirm that they were used for production. Intersection of an 1.8 metre high mining cavity in the drill hole indicates substantial production. Further drilling and pitting for bulk sampling is underway to determine whether this is the former Monte Christo Mine. The Monte Christo Diamond Mine was worked underground on two near horizontal levels by shafts 30 feet (9 metres) and 50 feet (15 metres) deep. This cavity may be the upper level of this mine, worked from the nearby 50 foot shaft. The lower level may
also have been mined by this shaft. Clays drilled below this cavity contained
chert pebbles in a 2.8 metre bed above the hard basement at 13.5 metres.
As similar pebbles were recorded in the shaft waste dump, it is possible
that the shaft also gave access to the lower level. 25 June
2009
Thirty six gem quality diamonds have been recovered from an 112.9 tonne bulk sample (B OD 9) from the former diamond open cut near the 1890s processing area of the Australian Diamond Mining Company. Total weight of diamonds was 6.73 carats.
This open cut forms a depression cut into the top of a low rise. The diamonds occur in a clay rich debris flow or hot spring deposit containing bedrock fragments, and small rounded jasper pebbles at the base. These rocks have been extensively extracted in the past, and large quantities of barren backfill (demonstrated by the presence of rail tracks beneath backfill) and basement rocks were necessarily included in the sample, resulting in a non-systematically taken sample, from which a grade cannot be calculated. Small pieces of blue & red sapphire and small pieces and flakes of gold were also recovered on the grease table. Location is 0256469E 6692337N
(GDA 95). Eight out of ten 2mm tracers were recovered. B OD 9 Wall at western edge of excavation Sampling was by excavator. The samples were trucked to Copeton for crushing to 10 mm, processing was through the Company’s trommel and jig plants, using a screen size of 1.2 mm. Separation from concentrate was by grease table. Diamond Drilling Resumes In order to resolve a hundred year old mystery, our drilling rig has commenced coring close to the 154 feet (47 metre) deep shaft sunk by the Australian Diamond Mining Proprietary Company Limited in the early 1890s. In 1897 local miners, some with South African experience, considered they were tunnelling within a “pipe”, and “a petition signed by all local respectable professionals, business people, miners and labourers was sent to our local member (Mr S. W. Moore) for presentation to the Minister for Mines, to send a competent man up to report on the diamond pipe on the Australian D. M. Coy.’s ground” (Australian Mining Standard, 1897). The Mines Department’s reply is shown in the figure below. The hole aims to determine, in modern terms, the nature of this material, reported by the Mines Department to be carrying diamonds. The cores recovered will be investigated for indicator minerals that may have originated within the earths mantle under similar pressure and temperature conditions to diamonds, indicating that the rocks containing them have potential to also carry diamonds.
FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009 Cluff has had another turbulent year. Cluff's Share
Price Unfortunately Cluff was at an almost all time low. Confidence was low, the share price was low, cash was very low and the existing projects and opportunities had all but stalled or evaporated. Below is the ASX chart
for the share price for the company for the 6 months prior to 22 May 2009.
It is not a pretty sight and except for what appears to be a hiccup in
late March we are certainly not where we would like to be.
New Board
of Directors from December 2008 I commend to all shareholders Mr Johns who without him we simply would have no viable company. Ian has been a long time shareholder and a very important supporter for some time and particularly lately and without Ian's cash support of the company it could not have continued to operate. But Ian brings much more to Cluff than his financial support. Ian is a very successful businessman with enormous energy and a very entrepreneurial spirit who has committed many hours of his time over the past 6 months to his role as a non-executive director. I also commend all shareholders to all the directors who have contributed their own cash in recent times to keep the company operating. When I joined the board it was very clear that I would not be required to provide such assistance but it was simply necessary. Both Ian and I joined the board and agreed to take no cash remuneration but to be allocated some options or shares as compensation. This arrangement reflected the poor cash position of the company. This is very responsible and generous position to have adopted by us. To assist the company and confirm our commitment to a policy of improving the share price we have both only accepted options. I believe I bring to the board a different perspective. I am interested in the projects of the company in the past and I am enthusiastic about the projects and prospects for the future whilst maintaining an objective mindset in respect to all these matters. Since our appointment we have both devoted a substantial amount of time and effort to our positions which I am sure would have amounted to permanent part time job in any other field of endeavour. I am not here seeking your thanks but I wish to make it clear that despite the fact that we are not paid any moneys for our services we have both devoted a substantial amount of time and effort to the role for your benefit. Our position has however been made substantially worse by the recent Federal government budget changes which seeks to assess these possible benefits up front and require us to pay tax on these alleged benefits. Both Ian and I saw our role to increase the share price for the mutual benefit of all shareholders and when we are successful we could elect to sell some of our holdings only after exercising the options and paying cash to the company for the privilege and thereafter paying capital gains tax on the benefit if the sale price exceed the option price. Ian and I have agreed to maintain and support the current proposals which are likely to be our substantial financial detriment and to review our position over the next 12 months. We remain hopeful that the Business Council of Australia and other organisations, will demonstrate to the satisfaction of the government that this change was misconceived; however I am much less optimistic about succeeding on that front than other more immediate issues for Cluff. I note of course that this week the Treasurer and Finance Minister have agreed to review some of the provisions. I have known Peter Kennewell and Scott Enderby for some years and respect both of them as professional resource company executive directors. I have never doubted their honesty, professionalism, expertise and work ethic for the benefit of Cluff and all its shareholders. But I believe Ian and I bring a different focus and different direction to the Board. Tin and Gold
Prices over the Past 6 months
The company will continue to preserve its interest in its Victoria gold venture. The following table is extracted from the London Metals Exchange this week in relation to tin.
Diamonds in
Northern NSW The managing director will speak of the details of these prospects a little later. However I would like to confirm to all shareholders of the significant work undertaken by Peter Kennewell in the analysis of the area. Cluff has a history of an interest in the Inverell area for many years. It has a wealth of historical information on much of the old workings particularly from the late 19th century. Peter is an expert in this material whilst at the same time being a practical over and in the ground geologist. Peter has worn out many a boot walking over these dusty hills, although over the past couple of weeks they were also boggy and wet hills. On Peter's recommendation this Board determined to focus upon an exploration program at Bingara just to the west of Inverell over the past several months. The exact location of the famous Captain Roger's mine which had been recorded as producing hundreds of thousands of carats of diamonds in the later 19th century has never been re-discovered. Peter re-examined all the data in Cluff's possession and determined to examine different areas of the tenement not previously examined in detail in many years. The results of the past three weeks are testament to the success of this analysis and work over the previous months. We still cannot confirm that we may have re-discovered the old Captain Rogers mine but we have certainly obtained grades of rough diamonds that indicate a major find and a potential economic project. We still need to do substantial additional work before large scale production could be justified, but because of Cluff's existing infrastructure already located nearby we have been able to test, sample and process numerous sites to which Peter had directed our crews. The results over the past month are very encouraging. I hesitate to say exciting until we have undertaken some more work but I am excited by the prospects to date. I would just like to remind our shareholders of the potential of the industry. Unlike precious metals such as gold or platinum, gem diamonds do not trade as a commodity: there is a substantial mark-up in the sale of diamonds, and there is not a very active market for resale of diamonds. One hallmark of the trade in gem-quality diamonds is its remarkable concentration: wholesale trade and diamond cutting is limited to a few locations. This is both an advantage and disadvantage. Any long term shareholder of Cluff would be aware of similar statements concerning the ruby development at Ellerston some years ago. The distinct advantage with diamonds over rubies is the underlying inherent value of diamond as compared to ruby. Rough diamonds are sorted based on characteristics such as shape, size, colour, cuttability and quality. The majority of diamonds fall within a range of standard colours from colourless to faint yellow or brown tints. A perfectly transparent diamond with no colour or hue is considered to be the purest. The Diamond Trading Company which is part of De Beers sorts, values and sells around half of the world’s rough diamonds – selling in excess of $6 billion worth of diamonds a year. A number of the diamonds recently found by Cluff at Bingara do show some yellow tinting which should make them very attractive to the Asian market. New York, along with the rest of the United States, is where almost 80% of the world's diamonds are sold. Also, the largest and most unusually shaped rough diamonds end up in New York. "Diamonds Remain a Girls Best Friend" is still a catch cry of most women in 2009. Marriage in Australia appeared under attack over the past 40 years and indeed the proportion of unmarried adults as compared to married adults appeared to be rising in the 1980s and early 1990s. But the last census in Australia did not confirm this trend and indeed indicated a reversal and the revival of marriages as the preferred option for couples. Diamonds on a girl's third finger left hand is still valued socially and indeed is seen as part of the tradition of marriage. This position is reflected worldwide. Along with the resurgence of this tradition we have the growth of affluence in Asia and India and the adoption of "western" trappings by the economic successful young people of China and elsewhere. The growth in the sale of diamond rings in China is now the focus of the largest marketing efforts being expended by the diamond wholesaling industry. The De Beers diamond advertising campaign is acknowledged as one of the most successful campaigns in history. This coordinated campaign has lasted decades and continues today; it is perhaps best captured by the slogan "a diamond is forever". I understand this program is to be embraced in China. All producers and marketers benefit from this program. As I said in my report in the Annual Report, diamonds remain a primary object and indication of an intention to marry. Processing takes place in 30 countries but is concentrated in five locations: Antwerp, Johannesburg, Mumbai, New York and Tel Aviv. India processes 55% by value of the world’s diamonds. China and Thailand are increasingly active centres. Interestingly our relationships being developed in India in respect to the projects on the sub-continent may lead to other opportunities with diamonds discovered and mined in NSW. The marketing of diamonds remains an issue as de Beers still controls half the market, but there is still a large part unregulated and Australian producers who can demonstrate a resource are looked upon very favourably because of the security of the supply. There is no doubt that if the company is able to prove up the resource and demonstrate a cost effective mining plan that diamonds from northern NSW are not only a viable business but a very attractive business for Cluff over the coming years. India The new Board has resolved to further support the company's efforts in India. But we have established time lines and strict budgets and strategies and plans. Ian has assumed some of these roles and indeed travelled to India with Peter Kennewell in early March to further these goals. The opportunities remain and I remain confident but cautious that some of these will be converted into ventures in the near future. We have nothing to say today but let me assure you we are all working hard to produce a viable venture in India this year. It has on occasion
been said to me that India is not worth the trouble but I disagree. I
think Cluff is about to turn the corner in major way and through hard
work and little bit of good fortune may just be in the right place at
the right time and in the frame of mind to benefit from that positioning.
Peter Hartcher in writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on 19 May this
year made some very interesting points concerning the recent federal election
in India and the return to the government of Manmohan Singh for another
five years with what he called a "massive mandate". Singh is not a market
fundamentalist. He has spent five years as a consistent champion of "inclusive
development". He took India to consistent economic growth of 9 per
cent until the global recession and, even today, India is growing at 6
per cent. At the same time he has always stressed measures to deal with
poverty. Although India has made progress in shrinking the proportion
of its population living below the poverty line from 60 per cent in 1981
to 42 per cent today, it still is home to one-third of the world's poorest
people. His theory? "Downturn
or not, no party could tell India's 714 million voters there was anything
more important than their aspirations - of better jobs and education,
more political power, better social respect and overall a more dignified
life." Confidence
in the Future We cannot also not escape from the obvious problems of Cluff and that is a lack of sufficient working capital to realise the opportunities I have spoken about. The company is also considering some funding options which we will subsequently be putting to you. The board has brought focus to Cluff for the immediate future. We have very good diamond prospects at Bingara and Copeton and the board is confident of the immediate prospects at Bingara. The company proposes to raise funds to further develop and explore the Bingara prospect with a view to producing a diamond mine at Bingara. Cluff has a flexible team who are always looking for opportunities. We have a presence and are well respected. We are going to focus on Bingara (diamonds) and India for the next 6 months. We are hopeful of having a producing viable long term project which is our goal. As always I also need to caution you in relation to investments in Cluff or indeed any public company. Cluff remains essentially a speculative investment and you must make up your own mind on the basis of the material we will distribute to you in relation to the future fund raising. I recommend your continued investment in Cluff but I certainly cannot guarantee any investment. We invite you along. 28 May 2009 Six gem quality diamonds have been recovered from an eight tonne bulk sample from a former diamond open cut near the 1890s processing area of the Australian Diamond Mining Company. The diamonds occur in a clay rich debris flow or hot spring deposit containing bedrock fragments, which is present as relicts of the material mined. These are preserved over a thickness of 1.5 metres in the wall of the open cut. The grade of this sample is 13.9 carats / 100 tonnes.
The open cut has mined the deposit from within a shallow depression twenty by twenty five metres. A 0.5 to 1 metres thickness of similar rocks, containing sparse small rounded pebbles, is preserved on the base of the pit, and is now being sampled to determine the quality of the diamonds mined, and the grade at the base of the deposit. The likely total thickness of the diamond bearing deposit was at least 2.5 metres, as the open cut has removed the crest of a small rise capped by gravels, and as one metre of similar material was preserved within the centre of the depression. The diamonds found
are shown above. Also recovered on the grease table were some small non-commercial
pieces of blue sapphire and flakes of gold. Location is 0256485E 6692333N
(GDA 95). Eight out of ten 2mm tracers were recovered. Sample B BH
9
Based on recent exploration results, it is likely that the diamonds were contained within the clayey band crossing the centre of the photo below, and similar in occurrence to those in B OD 8. As this band is about 0.4 metres thick within a total sample thickness of 2.4 metres, the grade of this narrow band may be higher than reported. All tracers were recovered.
Additional Samples Sampling was by backhoe and excavator. The samples were trucked to Copeton for crushing to 10 mm, processing through the Company’s trommel and jig plants, using a screen size of 1.2 mm. Separation from concentrate was by grease table. The information in
this report that relates to exploration results is based on information
compiled by Peter John Kennewell, who is a corporate member of the Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy included in a list promulgated by the
ASX from time to time. Peter John Kennewell is a full time employee of
Cluff Resources Pacific NL and has sufficient experience which is relevant
to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration
and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a competent
person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code
for Reporting of Exploration Results, Identified Mineral Resources, and
Ore Reserves”. Peter John Kennewell consents to the inclusion in
this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context
in which it appears.
31 March
2009 Ten gem quality diamonds
have been recovered from a twelve tonne sample of hill slope or debris
flow deposit containing bedrock fragments, together with underlying weathered
bedrock, in the Big Hill area of the Companys Bingara Diamond Field,
in northern NSW. The grade of this sample is 20.2 carats / 100 tonnes.
The present bulk sampling
and drilling program is applying our Copeton model, refined by recent
drilling, to reassess the Bingara Field. If economic grades of diamonds
were present at Bingara, the shallower depths expected may make open cut
mining possible, and establishment of a mine faster.
Recent drilling or
deepening of seven cored holes in the area of the Companys 60 metre
deep shaft on the Copeton Diamond Field, 50 kilometres east, has been
completed. This has allowed refinement of the model for occurrence of
the Copeton diamond deposits. The Companys rig has been moved to
Bingara, and is now drilling there. Peter Kennewell 23 March
2009 At a recent Board
meeting, Cluff directors resolved to provide short-term funding to the
Company to a total of $380,000. The Cluff Board was mindful of the need
to provide working capital to enable the continuation of exploration programs
and the completion of confidential negotiations. Subject to approval
of the notes and the following options by the company in general meeting,
each note shall also entitle the noteholder to be issued with 500,000
unlisted options for ordinary shares in the company at $0.005 per ordinary
share and such options must be exercised in amounts of 500,000 options
on or before 31 December 2009 and further each note shall also entitle
the noteholder to be issued with 500,000 unlisted options for ordinary
shares in the company at $0.01 and such option must be exercised on or
before 31 December 2009. Conversion of each note is to take place within
2 months of the approval of the note by the company in general meeting
or at any time at the request of the noteholder. If the notes and options
are not approved by the company in general meeting the noteholder shall
be entitled to call for repayment of the loan plus interest upon 60 days
notice. Peter Kennewell
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