Diavik Diamond Mine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Diavik Diamond Mine | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 7.0 km² (2.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation [1] | 416 m (1,365 ft) |
| Website: http://www.diavik.ca/index.htm | |
The Diavik Diamond Mine is a diamond mine in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Yellowknife.[2] It has become an important part of the regional economy, employing 700, grossing C$100 million in sales, and producing 8 million carats or about 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) of diamonds annually. The area was surveyed in 1992 and construction began in 2001, with production commencing in January 2003. It is connected by an ice road and Diavik Airport with a 5,235 feet (1,596 m) gravel runway regularly accommodating Boeing 737 jet aircraft.
The mine is owned by a joint venture between the Aber Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group. The lifespan of the mine is expected to be 16 to 22 years.
The mine consists of three kimberlite pipes and is located on an island 20 square kilometres (8 sq mi) in Lac de Gras and is informally called East Island. It is about 220 kilometres (137 mi) south of the Arctic Circle.
In 2006 the ice road from Yellowknife to the Diavik mine, and neighboring mines, froze late and thawed early.[1] The Diavik mine was unable to truck in all the supplies needed for the rest of 2006 before the road closed and arrangements had to be made to bring the remainder of the supplies in by air.
On July 5, 2007 a consortium of seven mining companies, including Rio Tinto, announced they are sponsoring environmental impact studies to construct a deep-water port in Bathurst Inlet.[3][4] Their plans include building a 211 km (131 mi) road connecting the port to their mines. The port would serve vessels of up to 25,000 tonnes.
The Diavik mine was featured in Ice Road Truckers, a television series on The History Channel.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Diavik Fact Book: The Diavik Diamond Mine. Diavik Diamond Mine Incorporated. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
- ^ Diavik Diamond Mine website. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ Bob Weber. "Arctic port plan gathers steam", Toronto Star, July 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
- ^ Jonathan Ratner. "New Arctic port plan for Northern miners", National Post, July 5, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
[edit] External links
- Diavik appoints new president
- 1991 Discovery of Diamonds in the NWT
- Wolfgang Brunner, Holger Itzeck, Stefan Schwank: "Dichtwände für eine Tagebaumine in der kanadischen Arktis", Jahrgang 2007, Heft 6, S. 340–344, Wissensportal TU Dresden, www.baumaschine.de/Portal/Tbg/2007/heft6/a340_344.pdf
