11 reasons to be buying oropa now, page-24

BTW, congratulations on getting ORP into the 'Most Discussed Stocks' list - that must be a first - lol.

Well, since 2000 anyway, when those great diamond results came through - lol.

Here's a sample - lol.


MACRO AND MICRO DIAMONDS RECOVERED FROM ORIENTATION SAMPLES
COLLECTED FROM FIRST PASS SAMPLING
The Directors have pleasure in submitting this report for release,
Highlights
* Logistics and support base established in Mainpur in southern
portion of prospecting Block D-7 in Madhya Pradesh
* Orientation sampling (comprising 35 kg samples) of selected areas
of Block D-7 completed to July 2000 with in excess of 300 stream
sediment samples collected.
* Processing and analysis of majority of reconnaissance samples
completed at diamond laboratories in Perth and Johannesburg.
* Macro and micro diamonds recovered from orientation samples
collected from weathered surfaces deposits of Behradih and Kodomali
kimberlites.
* High interest heavy minerals, comprising primarily pyrope garnets
and chrome spinels, observed in large number of reconnaissance
stream sediment samples observed so far.
* Micro-analysis of indicator minerals indicates presence of
significant numbers of G10 pyrope garnets, and chrome spinels with
>60% chromium which are compatible with derivation from a
diamondiferous source
* Permitting applications are in progress to allow large volume
sampling, including bulk sampling, of known kimberlite pipes and
other high interest anomalies.
* 10-15 tonne per hour Dense Media Separation ("DMS") plant order
initiated to facilitate bulk sampling operations in forthcoming
field season.
OROPA LIMITED - B VIJAYKUMAR AND COMPANY, INDIAN JOINT VENTURE
Following the granting of a diamond prospecting tender for Block D-7
in south eastern Madhya Pradesh, Oropa Limited ("Oropa" or the
"Company") and its joint venture partner, B Vijaykumar and
Company ("BVJK") are pleased to announce that initial orientation
sampling around four known kimberlites located in the south-east of
Block D-7 has been highly encouraging.
BVJK is one of the largest Indian diamantaires and an important De
Beers sight holder, employing over 25,000 cutters and polishers,
directly or under contract. Given its reliance on outside producers
such as Argyle and De Beers, the BVJK Group is committed to the
development of diamond exploration, mining and manufacturing in
India.
BVJK Group has considerable other interests in manufacturing,
building, construction, media, and advertising.
DIAMOND ORIENTATION SAMPLING
In the Quarterly Report for the period ended 31 March 2000, Oropa
announced that the first batch of samples had been received in Perth
for detailed visual and analytical studies, including indicator
mineral picking and subsequent electron micro-probing analysis and
mineral chemistry interpretation, where appropriate.
Some 2000 kgs of stream sediment samples of about 35 kg each, and 100
kgs of weathered material from the Behradih and Kodomali pipes (two
of the four known kimberlites within Block D-7) were processed
through two Perth based laboratories. A further 350 kgs of stream
sediment samples, have been analysed through a laboratory in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
First pass orientation and stream sediment samples were collected
from trap sites within an area of approximately 150 sq km around the
four known kimberlite diatremes in the Raipur kimberlite field
(Behradih, Kodomali, Jangra and Payalikhand), which is located in the
southern portion of Block D-7.
MACRO AND MICRO-DIAMOND RECOVERIES
One (1) macro diamonds and eighty five (85) micro diamonds were
recovered from the 60 kg Behradih sample, while six (6) macro
diamonds and one (1) micro diamond were recovered from the smaller
(45 kg) Kodomali sample. Although small sample sizes are often
unreliable for diamond quantification purposes, these results are
considered most encouraging. These data, along with the previous
history of artisinal mining activity on and adjacent to the known
kimberlites justify the Company's decision to purchase a 15 tonne per
hour DMS plant to bulk sample the pipes in the next field season.
HEAVY MINERAL INDICATORS
Results from the stream sediment samples, are considered significant.
Abundant mantle derived pyropic garnets typical of high interest
kimberlites, along with chrome spinels, have been recovered from a
high proportion of these samples, with accessory chrome diopside
grains being observed in some. Many samples containing large
quantities of high interest indicator minerals were collected from
trap sites located several kilometres distant from the known
kimberlite diatremes. It is considered that these samples are
unlikely to be influenced by these known kimberlite occurrences,
indicating that other kimberlite sources may exist within the area
sampled.
One macro diamond was recovered from a stream sediment sample site
located some 5 km south east of the Payalikhand pipe, which has not
been sampled to date. This sample also yielded several hundred pyrope
garnets and a similar number of chrome spinels. Another stream
sediment sample collected from a trap site approximately 3 km north
of the same pipe yielded in excess of 10,000 pyrope garnets and
almost 2,000 chrome spinels.
MINERALOGY AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY RESULTS
The orientation heavy mineral assemblages analysed by micro-probe
methods include high interest G9 and G10 pyrope garnets, and chrome
spinels with individual grains characterized by greater than 60%
chromium. Indicator minerals with these characteristics are
indicative of derivation from within the diamond stability field.
The heavy mineral assemblages identified thus far and the absence or
paucity of ilmenite, are also broadly typical of micaceous Group-2
kimberlites (eg Finsch mine) and Group-1 ilmenite-poor kimberlites
(eg Venetia mine).
The high interest mineral chemistry data, and occurrence of macro and
micro diamonds, from Block D-7 show interesting similarities to early
mineral chemistry results derived from the Slave Craton of the North
West Territories of Canada in the early 1990's.
FOLLOW-UP OF UN-EXPLAINED ANOMALIES
Well in excess of 90% of the samples analysed contained significant
numbers of kimberlite indicator minerals. Many of these grains are
angular, suggesting that the primary kimberlite sources are situated
nearby. Local follow-up sampling programs was completed in the light
of the initial results. These follow-up samples have also been
exported to Australia and South Africa for processing and analysis.
These results are considered highly encouraging. Oropa's orientation
sampling program was also aimed at recovering indicator minerals not
necessarily associated with the known kimberlites and to designate
possible other kimberlite intrusions and thus increase the likely
number of kimberlites to be bulk sampled. Mineral chemistry plots of
each suite of indicators recovered from samples collected some
distance from the known kimberlites are being compiled to compare
them against the mineral chemistry plots obtained from the known
pipes. Analyses from the follow up samples and in-fill samples will
be evaluated and compared to the initial results to trace the sourcesof those
indicator traits.
FUTURE WORK
In the light of the encouraging results from the reconnaissance work
completed to date in Block D-7, Oropa and BVJK intend to proceed as
follows immediately after the current Indian monsoon period:
* Completion of required permitting processes and establishment of
full range of infrastructure requirements to ensure a full scale
sampling and evaluation programme in Block D-7 during the latter part
of 2000 and early 2001.
* Further heavy mineral analysis, including nickel-analyses of the
heavy minerals recovered in the orientation work.
* Sampling and appraisal of known kimberlites and adjacent anomalies
identified in the orientation and initial follow-up programme to map
out a plan of action for the delineation and evaluation of these
intrusives, including bulk sampling.
* Regional exploration programme of heavy mineral sampling of Block
D-7 aimed at demarcating additional high interest prospecting areas
before reducing the area held under the prospecting authority.
* Regional airborne geophysical survey over the entire area of Block
D-7, with detailed follow-up surveys over selected areas to
supplement the regional exploration. Oropa and its Indian joint
venture partner also have authority to secure other gold and base
metal deposits that may be delineated by diamond prospecting or
geophysical studies in the high interest granite greenstone terranes
of the block.
P C Christie
MANAGING DIRECTOR