Arctic Star Exploration Corp. announced that it has completed its spring exploration program on the Diagras project, Northwest Territories, a joint venture between Arctic Star (81.5%) and Margaret Lake Diamonds (18.5%). The season's accomplishments are summarized below.

The drill program completed nine holes, totaling 1,098 meters Six were directed towards the ongoing delineation of the Sequoia kimberlite complex and three others were completed exploring for new kimberlite on two exploration targets. This work resulted in the discovery of the Arbutus kimberlite. Table 1 provides the location, bearing, total depth, and dip of each drill hole.

Table 2 outlines the geology intersected in each hole. The total meters of kimberlite intersected at Sequoia was 504 meters. The total number of meters intersected at Arbutus is 41.4 meters.

HQ drill core has a diameter of 6.35cm, the density of the kimberlite is not yet known however they assume a density of 2.4g/cm3, 1m of core with a weight of approx. 7.6kg, the core is split with half or approximately 3.8kg per meter going to the lab for caustic fusion. Therefore, the total estimated sample to be sent for caustic fusion from Sequoia is estimated at 1915 kilograms. Drill holes DG2022-01 to DG2022-03 were drilled 22m south-southeast of the initial 2021 discovery hole in Sequoia.

The first hole was drilled vertical with the following two holes being drilled to the east (DG2002-02) and west (DG2002-03). The intercepts in the angled holes suggest they are drilling of the southern edge of an eruption center. The current thinking is Sequoia is a series of kimberlite pipes that have overlapping craters and this round of drill is at the edge of one of these pipe craters.

Drill holes DG2022-05 to DG2022-07 were drilled 100 m to the north-northeast of holes 1 through 3 and are interpreted to be more central in this eruption center with DG2022-05 ending in kimberlite. DG2022-06 drilled to the east hitting the edge of the kimberlite 30.8 m horizontal distance and 84.6 m below the surface. DG2022-07 was drilled westward and hit the edge of the kimberlite at 28.7 m horizontal distance and 78.9m below the surface.

Combined these holes suggest the kimberlite has an east-west width of 59.5 m at this location and depth. Further delineation drilling is planned to further understand the geology, geometry, and grade of Sequoia. NQ drill core was used in the discovery of the Arbutus kimberlite.

NQ core has a diameter of 4.76cm. A kimberlite with a density of 2.4g/cm3 will weigh 2.2kg/meter and it is estimated that, and 147 kilograms will be sent for caustic fusion for Arbutus, with the entire drill hole DG2022-09 and the one half split from DG2022-08 being fused.