Encouraging micro-diamond results

Encouraging micro-diamond results received from north-eastern lobe of DO-27 0.59 AND 0.18 CARAT DIAMONDS FOUND IN N.Q. DIAMETER (47mm) CORE HOLES Shares issued and outstanding: 128,343,101 TSX: SDM AIM: SRE TORONTO and LONDON, UK, March 16 /CNW/ - SouthernEra Diamonds Inc. (TSX: SDM; AIM: SRE) is pleased to announce that it has received from Peregrine Diamonds Ltd, operating partner of the WO Project Joint Venture, the results of caustic fusion analysis of micro-diamond samples by the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") of the seven NQ diameter core holes drilled into the north-eastern lobe of the DO-27 kimberlite, WO Diamond Project, NWT, Canada, last Fall. The north-eastern lobe of DO-27 was subject to an underground bulk sample by Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. ("KCEI") in 1994 and results from that bulk sample, which was largely from a basal volcaniclastic unit, graded 0.36 carats/tonne. Peregrine's successful 2005 mini-bulk sample of the Cr-diopside rich pyroclastic phase of the main vent of DO-27 ("PK"), which is geologically distinct to the volcaniclastic kimberlites in the north-eastern lobe and constitutes the majority of the kimberlite at DO-27, graded 0.98 carats/tonne. The geology of the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 is more complex than the main vent and consists of a thin, discontinuous, upper volcaniclastic unit ("Upper VK"), a pyroclastic unit ("PK") that is contiguous with the PK of the main vent, and a highly variable, volcaniclastic unit ("Lower VK") that can be correlated as a package, but contains many layers that cannot be easily correlated from hole to hole. The Lower VK is underlain by volcaniclastic microbreccia and hypabyssal rocks. Geological observations from core drilling and these latest micro-diamond results further substantiate that the Upper and Lower VK units of the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 are geologically distinct from the pyroclastic unit of the main vent. The various sub-units within the Lower VK (referred to as Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) reveal micro-diamond counts that are both higher and lower than those from the PK unit, implying that different horizons within this Lower VK unit have different diamond contents. Sub-unit Lower VK-1 is a black, olivine, macrocrystal volcaniclastic kimberlite which is similar to the kimberlite described by KCEI for their underground adit, which further suggests that KCEI's 1994 bulk sample may have sampled one of the lower grade horizons. The fact that relatively large diamonds (0.59 and 0.18 carats) were obtained from NQ core drill intercepts in the Lower VK unit of the north-eastern lobe indicates good potential for the presence of large stones within the north-eastern lobe. Also, the presence of horizons within the north-eastern lobe with micro-diamond contents equal or better than those seen in the main vent suggests that portions of the north-eastern lobe could grade higher than the main vent. The PK and Lower VK units are the two volumetrically most significant units in the north-eastern lobe and comprise most of the samples submitted for micro-diamond analysis. The volcaniclastic microbreccia and the hypabyssal breccia were not sampled due to the volumetric insignificance and granitic dilution with these particular units. Material from the seven core holes have been combined by geological unit to give a better understanding of the micro-diamond distribution within each geological unit. Micro-diamond results for the seven core holes drilled into the north-eastern lobe of DO-27 are as follows: Upper VK and Main PK ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Upper VK PK (upper horizon) PK (lower horizon) --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 1 0.082195 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 1 0.038415 2 0.038035 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 0 0 4 0.033735 10 0.10699 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 0 0 14 0.04835 20 0.066265 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 3 0.003115 20 0.02619 26 0.03461 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 1 0.000465 41 0.022155 62 0.03344 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 10 0.00173 53 0.009665 95 0.01729 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 3 0.0002 62 0.00446 112 0.00784 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 15 0.000375 115 0.00337 165 0.004575 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 14 0.000175 139 0.001975 254 0.003195 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total 46 0.00606 449 0.188315 747 0.394435 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 22.1 172.3 222.6 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 2.08 2.61 3.36 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lower VK - (listed by sub-units Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Lower VK - 1 Lower VK - 2 Lower VK - 3 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 1 0.592385 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 1 0.181255 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 3 0.032415 0 0 1 0.01464 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 2 0.00702 1 0.003785 5 0.021925 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 2 0.002035 1 0.00216 6 0.011645 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 14 0.00628 8 0.00418 12 0.00482 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 21 0.003075 13 0.00221 17 0.002695 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 27 0.00197 17 0.001465 14 0.000865 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 19 0.00062 32 0.00092 24 0.000705 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 44 0.00061 12 0.000235 69 0.000805 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Total 133 0.23528 85 0.60734 148 0.0581 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 72.6 32.85 40.95 --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 1.83 2.59 3.61 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lower VK - (listed by sub-units Lower VK-1 through Lower VK-5) -------------------------------------------------- Unit Lower VK - 4 Lower VK - 5 --------------------------- ------------------- Total Total Total Total Lower Sieve Stones Carats Stones Carats --------------------------- ------------------- +4.75 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +3.35 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +2.36 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +1.70 mm 0 0 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +1.18 mm 0 0 1 0.044135 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.85 mm 1 0.016465 1 0.006355 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.60 mm 4 0.020085 0 0 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.425 mm 6 0.00878 4 0.00491 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.300 mm 8 0.00447 12 0.006415 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.212 mm 22 0.003695 17 0.002895 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.150 mm 45 0.00299 24 0.001325 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.106 mm 58 0.001445 31 0.000755 --------------------------- ------------------- +0.075 mm 57 0.00065 43 0.00051 --------------------------- ------------------- Total 201 0.05858 133 0.0673 --------------------------- ------------------- Sample Weight (kg) 63.45 44.45 --------------------------- ------------------- Stones per kg 3.17 2.99 -------------------------------------------------- DO-18 ----- Micro-diamond results for DO-18, a kimberlite located approximately 700 meters North of DO-27, are pending from SRC and should be received by mid-April, 2006. Peregrine's diamond exploration programs are conducted under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Pell, Vice President Exploration, P. Geo., (BC), P.Geo. (NT/NU), a qualified person under NI 43-101. SouthernEra holds a 4.9% interest in the WO Diamond Project. SouthernEra Diamonds is one of Canada's largest fully integrated diamond companies with extensive diamond exploration in five countries including Canada, Gabon, the DRC, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This represents one of the most active global diamond exploration programs after the majors DeBeers, BHPB and Rio Tinto. The Company also operates the Klipspringer Diamond Mine in South Africa and maintains an 18 percent free-carried interest in the Camafuca Diamond Project in Angola. Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking and, therefore, involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such forward-looking statements include comments regarding exploration work. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements. /or further information: SouthernEra Diamonds Inc.: Howard Bird, Senior Vice President Exploration, or Sharon Allan, Investor Relations, Telephone: (416) 359-9282, Fax: (416) 359-9141, E-mail: inbox(at)southernera.com, www.southernera.com; London: 4C-Burvale: Carina Corbett, Director, Telephone: ++44 (0) 207-907-4761, Fax: ++44 (0) 207-907-4769, Email: Corbett(at)4c-burvale.co.uk (SDM. SRE) -30-

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