Shore Gold Inc. says the value of the diamonds at its Star-Orion South diamond project has risen following an updated valuation.

WWW International Diamond Consultants Ltd., a rough diamond valuation and consulting firm, recently applied its new July prices to diamonds from parcels in the Star and Orion South deposits, leading to a 31 to 46 per cent increase from February. The highest value diamond, an 11.96 carat Type IIa stone, rose to $18,000 per carat from $15,000 per carat, for a total value of $215,190. Other high-value diamonds include a 10.53 carat gem that rose to $7,900 per carat from $6,000 per carat for a total value of $83,148 and a 4.26 carat stone that rose by $1,000 to $4,900 per carat for a total value of $20,800.

"The continued significant increase in rough diamond prices will have a major positive effect on the economics of the Star-Orion South diamond project," said George Read, the company's senior vice-president of exploration and development.

"The current high and rising price of rough is driven by increasing demand and shrinking supply, which may become more pronounced in the future as old mines decline in production and close and a limited number of new projects are developed to take their place. The Star-Orion South diamond project is expected to play a significant role in future diamond production."

Shore Gold, which is based in Saskatoon, has yet to make a production decision on the project.

Terra Ventures Inc. has completed an exploration program on three uranium properties in the Wheeler River region of the Athabasca Basin.

The company, which has the option to earn up to a 95 per cent interest in the C-4, C-5 and C-6 mineral dispositions from Solitaire Mineral Corp., said the program consisted of 2,603 metres of diamond drilling and various geophysical surveys. No uranium mineralization was found in any of the five holes drilled on the properties, however silification was encountered in three holes and low-level elevated radioactivity was found in all five holes.

Terra Ventures said the Wheeler River properties adjoin Denison Mines Corp.'s Wheeler River property and its Phoenix Zone.

Encanto Potash Corp. said it received good turnouts and positive feedback at meetings held with Muskowekwan First Nation members about its potash project.

The company, which is advancing its Muskowekwan potash plan, recently held meetings on the reserve and also in Regina about the development. Later this year, Muskowekwan members will vote on adding additional Treaty Land Entitlement lands to the First Nation's joint venture with Encanto. If the land is added, it will increase the size of the project to 32,500 acres from 17,000 acres.

"I believe that we were able to address the memberships' concerns and we left with more support and understanding than we arrived with. This is very encouraging for us as we already knew there was significant support for our efforts on-reserve," said Muskowekwan Chief Reginald Bellerose.

Encanto and the First Nation plan to hold additional meetings in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.

Denison Mines Corp.'s ongoing summer drill program at Wheeler River has expanded the known mineralization at its Phoenix Zone A deposit.

So far, 22 holes for about 12,000 metres have been drilled at the property, with the focus of exploration at Zone A. Fourteen holes totalling 6,646 metres have been drilled at the zone to date, returning highlights including 38.5 per cent U3O8 over 8.4 metres. The company said drill results suggest mineralization at the deposit remains open to the north and east and will be the focus of the remaining weeks of the summer program.

Denison holds a 60 per cent interest in, and is the operator of, the Wheeler River property. Cameco Corp. holds a 30 per cent interest in the site with JCU (Canada) Exploration Co., Ltd. owning the remaining 10 per cent of Wheeler River.