Diavik Diamond Mine

Diavik Diamond Mine - Canada
Natural diamond sources have been discovered in approximately 35 different countries around the World across several continents. Diamonds, and consequently mines like the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada, are found in areas where there have been volcanic activity or erosion and where natural elements such as streams, rivers and even glaciers might have taken them. When such sources are discovered mines, such as the Diavik Diamond Mine, often follow. The Diavik Mine projects an average of between 7 - 8 million carats per year during the life of the diamond mine. Please click the following links for additional facts and information about diamonds produced in Canada and Diamond Mines:

Canadian Diamonds
Ekati Diamond Mine
Diamond Mines

Facts and Information about the Diavik Diamond Mine - Canada
Facts and Information about the Diavik Diamond Mine:

• The Diavik Diamond Mine Country is found in Canada.
• The second diamond mine in Canada, Diavik, began production in January 2003
• The Diavik Diamond Mine Location: Lac de Gras East Island, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is 200km south of the Arctic circle and 20 kilometers distance from the Ekati diamond mine
• The Diavik Diamond Mine diamond source: Kimberlite volcanic pipes
Formation of Diavik volcanic pipe: Shallow lakes formed in inactive volcanic craters
• Mining Method: Open pit mining
• The Diavik Diamond Mine diamond quality: Many large diamonds have been recovered
Age of Diamonds: 45 to 62 million years old
• Age of the mine: The area was surveyed in 1992. Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. was created with head office in Yellowknife in December 1996

• Investors of Rio Tinto plc and Aber Diamond Corporation approve $1.3 billion expenditure to build the mine in December 2000
• Construction began in 2001 and the first diamonds were produced in 2003
• The Diavik Mine projects an average of 7 - 8 million carats per year during the life of the mine
• Diamonds from the Diavik Mine are authenticated through the "CanadaMark" service
• Color of diamonds found at the Diavik Mine: Colorless, and very rarely, yellow.
• The Diavik Diamond Mine is joint owned by the Aber Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group
Aber supplies a portion of its 40 per cent share of Diavik diamonds to Tiffany and Co. of New York
• The Canadian Diavik mine leads the world on environmental standards

Information about Diamond Deposits
Diamonds reach the surface of the earth via volcanic pipes or via placer / alluvial deposits. The purpose of the mines is the extraction of valuable diamonds from the earth. The mines are plant operations built to extract diamond crystal from either underground or from the surface. When diamonds are extracted underground, the mine needs a system of excavations in the rock to gain access to the kimberlite rock. There are a limited number of commercially viable diamond mines currently operating in the world which use tunnelling and excavation methods. However, diamonds are also mined using the Placer or Alluvial mining methods when host rock is washed away by streams and rivers and diamonds are deposited as sediment in the stream sands in 'placer deposits' which also called Alluvial deposits.

Diamonds are Forever...
An Impartial Guide to Diamonds