New Kimberlite Discovery

Tertiary Minerals PLC 15 July 2004 TERTIARY MINERALS PLC TERTIARY DISCOVERS NEW KIMBERLITE BODY AT FINNISH DIAMOND TARGET • Two Separate Kimberlites Intersected In Drilling One Target • Samples Now Being Laboratory Evaluated For Microdiamonds • New Target 20km Away To Be Drilled Next Month • Enlarged Search Area Now Takes In 21 Targets ___________________________________________________________________ Tertiary Minerals plc ('the Company') is pleased to announce that it has intersected two separate kimberlitic bodies in the first drill hole of its diamond exploration project in the Karelian Craton of Finland. The objective of drilling was to test a ground magnetic anomaly that, based on previous exploration reports, was believed to reflect a small kimberlite pipe or dyke. The hole confirmed the presence of massive hypabyssal kimberlite (Group I geological characteristics) from 71.55m to 98.43m down hole. Unexpectedly, the hole also intersected a second kimberlite (Group II geological characteristics) between 51.35m to 59.85m down-hole. The second kimberlite differs from the first in that it is micaceous, contains visible kimberlite indicator minerals, is only slightly more magnetic than its host rocks and may be significantly older than the massive kimberlite. A second larger diameter hole was drilled adjacent to the first hole for sampling purposes and made a second intersection of the Group II kimberlite from 46.41 m to 48.75 m where the hole reached the technical limit of the small drill rig used. Samples of both kimberlites have now been sent to independent diamond laboratories for an evaluation of microdiamond/indicator mineral content and chemistry. A further announcement will be made when results are available in the next few weeks. The occurrence of two types, and possibly two distinct generations, of kimberlite is seen as particularly encouraging for the wider distribution of kimberlite in the project area and more generally in this under-explored part of the Finnish Karelian craton. Some 20km away, a ground magnetic survey has now defined the surface position of a similar aeromagnetic target which the Company plans to drill test in August. In view of the early success being generated by the Company's diamond exploration programme the Company has applied for further claim reservations and as a result now has a total of 21 targets under claim or claim reservation. All lie within the Karelian Craton, a block of ancient crustal rocks which exhibits all the characteristics necessary to host and preserve diamondiferous kimberlites. This craton extends across the border into Russia where it hosts the world-class Arkhangelsk diamond deposits (www.gsf.fi/explor/ eco_diamond_frame.htm). For further information please contact: Patrick Cheetham, Executive Chairman, Tertiary Minerals plc. Tel: 01625-626203 Ron Marshman/John Greenhalgh, City of London PR Limited. Tel: 020-7628-5518 Technical Note : In this release the term 'kimberlite' is used sensu lato to denote a rock of kimberlitic affinity which has potential to host diamonds. Further mineralogical work, including microprobe studies will be required to determine the exact classification of the rocks. Not all kimberlites contain diamonds. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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