It would be interesting to note that the explorations in this region spearheaded by Ashton Mining of Canada Inc has identified 32 kimberlites so far in in this area. Ashton is also having explorations in Salve (Northwest Territories and Quebec regions of Canada as well. According to these reports kimberlite BH 225 seems to be more promising. It has given so far five macro diamonds (larger than 0.5 mm) and 67 micro diamonds, while kimberlite BH 155 has given so far 32 microdiamonds. Samples from BH 230 contained one micro diamond.

Further explorations will be concentrated on BH 225 and BH 155, which appear to be more promising in this group of six kimberlites. Extensive airbornesurveys have already been completed over large portions of the 26.5 million acres (1,07,000 sq.kilo meteres) of mineral permits by the joint venturers. In June last, a summer programme of regional exploration was commenced. This include heavy mineral sampling in conjunction with detailed airborne and ground magnetic surveys over promising anomalies.The results will be used to define targets for drilling in the winter season.

It would appear that when the alberta Energy Co.Ltd. was conducting aeromagnetic surveys in the Alberta region for oil and gas, it accidentally hit upon a huge field of kimberlites in that area. This led to the location of 10 kimberlites have been located till the middle of 1999. All such kimberlites require to be drilled and their ore samples have to be analysed before deciding upon their diamond potential. Pure Gold Minerals and Ashton Mining of Canada have joined this joint venture. Joint ventures seem to be hopeful about their explorations in the Alberta region, since nowhere elsesuch a large cluster of kimberlites has been located earlier.

Ashton Mining O Canada Inc is a diamond exploration company with interests in a number of prospective exploration projects across Canada. The Alberta project is complemented by long-term presence in the Northwest Territories and a programme of wide reconnaissance in Quebec. This company was formed by Ashton Mining Ltd., Australia which has 61.2 per cent stake in it. In the Alberta project Ashton Canada has two other partners, Viz Pure Gold Minerals and Alberta Energy. Ashton Canada employs a highly skilled technical staff and work force to conduct explorations for diamonds it has also built a highly specialised and fully equipped diamond laboratory facility at its offices in north Vancouver which allows processing and observing of samples in-house, maintaining strict quality control.