Stornoway Diamond Corp. (SWY - TSX) and Motapa Diamonds Inc. (MTP - TSX-V) are pleased to provide the following exploration update from their jointly held projects collectively covering 2.1 million acres in Botswana, Africa. The agreement between Stornoway and Motapa provides Stornoway with an option to earn a 50% interest in a portion of Motapa Botswana diamond licenses through exploration work commitments and share issuances totaling $3 million by September, 2008 (see press release SWY 05-07, dated April 27, 2005).
The diverse landholdings include the highly prospective Sua Pan property, which is situated along the Cretaceous kimberlite trend, approximately 50 km northeast of the Orapa diamond mine, and is slated for drilling in August, 2006.
The first phase of drilling testing unexplained geophysical anomalies on the Lebung, Matsitama and Mokubilo properties has been completed. No obvious intersections of kimberlite were encountered in the 16-hole program, but some unidentified rock chips intersected during drilling have been submitted for XRF analysis to establish rock-type.
Phase II of the Botswana drill program will focus on the 573,000 acre Sua Pan property, located 50 km northeast of the Orapa diamond mine, and is expected commence in mid-August.
The Sua Pan is a large dry lake bed not conducive to conventional heavy mineral prospecting techniques. Kimberlite indicator minerals are common in samples collected on the periphery of the pan, and diamonds have been recovered from five sample locations, suggesting the possibility of local kimberlite sources. Final results of the recent 11,51 line kilometre proprietary FalconTM airborne gravity gradiometer/magnetometer system have been assessed and some forty-six targets of interest have been identified. These targets are currently being geophysically modelled to estimated depth to source and potential size. The airborne data also delineate prominent structural trends that could be important controls on kimberlite emplacement.
On April 26, 2006, in accordance with Stornoway's vesting requirements, Stornoway issued 494,121 common shares equaling the amount of US$500,000 to Motapa Diamonds.
Botswana is the world's leading diamond producer by value and its mines, Jwaneng, Lethlakhane and Orapa are amongst the most profitable. The country is democratically ruled, boasting a growing economy and a stable political environment.
Stornoway is one of Canada's premier diamond exploration companies with extensive landholdings (approximately 18 million acres) focussed in key project areas in northern Canada and Botswana. Stornoway has been involved in the discovery of 61 kimberlites since 2002, 30 of which have proven diamondiferous.
Motapa is among the leading diamond explorers in Africa and controls over 11 million hectares (approximately 27 million acres) of diamond prospective properties located in Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Gabon and Mozambique. Motapa's Chairman, Dr. John Gurney, is one of the world's leading authorities in the field of geochemical exploration for diamondiferous kimberlites and has been associated with successful diamond exploration programs around the world, including the discovery of the kimberlites that comprise the EkatiTM diamond mine.
The Botswana exploration program is conducted under the direction of Robin Hopkins, P.Geol. (NT/NU), a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
On behalf of the Board
STORNOWAY DIAMOND CORPORATION
/s/ "Eira Thomas"
Eira Thomas