Stornoway Diamond Corporation (SWY:TSX) and partners, International Samuel Exploration Corp. (SAZ:TSXV) ("Samuel"), Shear Minerals Ltd. (SRM:TSXV), and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. are pleased to announce that indicator mineral geochemistry recovered from the 2003 till sampling program exhibits a high diamond potential signature and as of September 30, 2004, International Samuel has fulfilled their 65% earn-in on the Churchill West Property by completing $1 million in exploration expenditures.
In 2003, a total of 315 regional till samples were collected and processed for kimberlitic indicator minerals on the 514,000 acre Churchill West property in the Rankin Inlet area of Nunavut. The 2003 sampling program produced 164 probe-confirmed kimberlitic indicator minerals from 98 samples (including pyrope garnet, eclogitic garnet, chrome diopside, ilmenite and chromite). Of the 24 recovered pyrope garnets, one grain was identified as a high interest, subcalcic G10 garnet as defined by Gurney (1984). The G10 garnet is situated well within the claim boundary and in close proximity (within a 1.5 km radius) of two G9 garnets recovered from two different sample locations.
The 2004 till sampling campaign saw a total of 750 samples collected on the Churchill West property. Seventy (70) of the samples were collected on a detailed grid pattern to further delineate the anomalous G10 and G9 occurrences outlined above and are being treated as high priority for indicator mineral observation. The remaining till samples were primarily collected on regional lines to compliment the samples collected in 2003. These samples have been received and are currently being processed for kimberlitic indicator minerals at the Saskatchewan Research Council in Saskatoon.
Samuel currently holds a 65% interest in the property with Shear Minerals Ltd., Stornoway Diamond Corp. and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. having 17.85-per-cent, 12.25-per-cent and 4.9-per-cent interests respectively. Shear, Stornoway and BHP Billiton have the right to buy back a total of 10-per-cent interest from Samuel for $100,000 cash within 90 days of notification of Samuel fully vesting their interest.
The Churchill West project encompasses 514,000 acres located near the community of Rankin Inlet in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, contiguous to the Churchill Diamond Project. In 2003 two kimberlites were discovered on the Churchill West property. The 2004 Churchill West field program is under the supervision of Jennifer Burgess, PGeol, a qualified person under NI 43-101.
On behalf of the Board
STORNOWAY DIAMOND CORPORATION
/s/ "Eira Thomas"
Eira Thomas, President
For further information, please contact the Company at 604-331-2259 or (888) 338-2200
** Website: www.stornowaydiamonds.com Email: info@stornowaydiamonds.com **
This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, exploration results, resource or reserve estimates, anticipated production or results, sales, revenues, costs, "best-efforts" financings or discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are in Company documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.