RUBIES: True North Gems begins construction at Aappaluttoq site

GREENLAND – True North Gems of Vancouver and partner LNS Greenland A/S have begun mobilizing equipment for the construction of the Aappaluttoq ruby and pink sapphire project in the Fiskenaesset region.

The immediate goal in to transport and install the pre-fabricated loading dock. Road construction to the mine site is next, followed by fabrication of the permanent camp that will be used also by construction crews. All infrastructure is to be complete in time for production to begin next year.

True North began exploring in the area in 2004 and has outlined 30 ruby occurrences. A bulk sample of 165 tonnes was removed, of which 48 tonnes have so far been processed. The sample yielded 65,000 grams of gem quality and over 129,700 grams of near-gem ruby and pink sapphires.

Mine plans call for an open pit followed by crushing. The gems will be picked out of the crushed ore either by hand or mechanically. True North says the quality of the stones are comparative to Burmese stones without heat treatment or glass filling.

Look for the picture of the 302.65-ct Kitaa ruby in the November 2011 presentation (Click here.)