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canada-diamonds

Canada - Diamonds

With much of Canada underlain by ancient bedrock, the existence of diamond-bearing kimberlite has been considered very likely, particularly with tantalizing diamonds found in Wisconsin in deposits swept down by glaciers from up north. Now the country is home to the latest major diamond discovery.

Intermittent exploration for kimberlites by major companies was unsuccessful through the 1980s. But Chuck Fipke, head of Dia Met Minerals, persevered and in April 1990 located a kimberlite under Point Lake. Eventually, his company, with partner BHP Minerals, found more than 100 kimberlites on their claims; 42 contain diamonds. Five small pipes, to be operated as if they were one mine, are scheduled to start production in the second half of 1998.

The first kimberlite pipe discovered in the Northwest Territories is under Point Lake. The top of the kimberlite lies about 50 m below the surface of the lake, which is 600 m wide.