Iqaluit (Oct 18/04) - BHP Billiton is awaiting results from its completed diamond exploration activities near Repulse Bay at their Qilalugaq property.

Siegfried Weidner, project co-ordinator Qilalugaq with BHP, said the kimberlite pipes are weakly to moderately diamondiferous, but adds results from a bulk sample on the property are pending.

Once results come back from the mini bulk sample, plans will be made for activities, which will commence after Christmas, said Weidner.

Brian McQuarrie, senior administrative officer for Repulse Bay, said BHP had a meeting with the town council last spring when the company was laying out its plans and setting up a camp approximately 15 kilometres from the settlement.

This is the second year BHP has had exploration teams in the area.

"I think they're playing their cards fairly close to their chest," said McQuarrie.

Close to 30 people from the community were hired to work with BHP's exploration camp.

"They had rock drills out there and they built a campsite -- their own self-contained village," he said.

McQuarrie said word from BHP officials is that there are kimberlites being found on the Qilalugaq property.

McQuarrie said Stornoway Diamond Corporation is also in the area undertaking exploration activities and Committee Bay Resources is also close by looking for gold.

Information on Stornoway Diamond's Web site states nine kimberlite pipes have been found on the Qilalugaq claim.