The History of Canadian Diamonds

It is said the sparkle from canadian diamond ringssells $100,000,000 worth of gemstones a year.
mimics the eerie and enchanting radiance of theThis mine is expected to be in production for the
Northern Lights. This is a bit of a romantic notionnext two decades and is currently responsible for
as it is actually the cut of the diamond, not itsproviding 5% of the worlds gemstone quality
national identity that makes it twinkle like adiamonds.The Jericho-3 mine is located near the
Northern star. Still Canadian diamonds are amongnorth end of Contwoyto Lake in West Kitikmeot
the whitest in the world. Thanks to stringentin the Canadian Territory of Nunavut. It is
government regulations in the Northwestoperated by the Tahera Diamond Corporation,
Territories they are also extremely high quality.which has been researching the viability of
This Canadian reputation for integrity means thatoperating the mine year round in Nunavit's harsh
canadian diamond rings are competing well in theclimate. It has only been in business for several
gem stone jewelry market.Canadian diamonds aremonths but it is projected to be a generous
also quite special because they have only beenresource of glittering diamonds for at least the
around about thirty years. Prior to their discoverynext eight years.You know a diamond deposit is
in Canada's Artic north in 1985, the finest qualityserious valuable when DeBeers decides to get a
diamonds were sourced from South Africa. Thispiece of the action. The Snap Lake mine, that is
monopoly was put to an end when two Canadianscheduled to open next year is owned and
geologists, Charles Fipke and his partner Stuartoperated by the gargantuan South African mining
Blusson discovered a large vein of Kimberlite nearcompany. This particular mine is located beneath a
Lac De Gras in the Yukon, Canada. This discoverylake in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern
was exciting as Kimberlite is the idealOntario. The nearest community is the coastal
stone-growing medium for high quality diamonds.village of Attawapiskat. This mine, which requires
Soon after this, in 1991, yet another source ofa great deal of technological innovation to extract
diamonds in Kimberlite was found in Nunavit in thethe Canadian diamonds from beneath tons of
Northwest Territories.The money to extractwater, apparently has a rich deposit of gems that
these diamonds comes from the Canadianwill produce for at least eight years.One of the
government and the gemstones that aregreat things about this mine is they have gone a
produced are also certified by the governmentlong way towards making Canada's indigenous
body. This means that unlike many diamonds thatpeople, Indians and Eskimos, quite wealthy The
you can buy today, the Canadian diamond can bemines provide high-income jobs with an average
traced back to the diamond it was mined from.salary of $63,000. These are permanent jobs that
Canadian diamonds are also etched with a serialare currently handled by aboriginal peoples such as
number as well as a teensy microscopic image ofthe Dene First Nation. When you buy canadian
a polar bear or a maple leaf. All diamonds mined indiamonds you are also supporting an indigenous
this conscientious country come with a Canadianculture.The relatively recent discoveries of these
Triple Guarantee, which assures the quality anddiamond mines have caused a flurry of
purity of the rock.In the last thirty years, Canadaexcitement, not unlike the Yukon Gold Rush.
has risen to become one of the top threeAccording to Statistics Canada, by February 2004
producers of gemstone quality diamonds in theprospecting companies from all over the world laid
world. Although South Africa produces the mostclaim to more than 70 million acres in the
diamonds, many of them are for industrial andNorthwest Territories and Nunavut. The most
technological uses. Currently Canada is the thirddramatic increase in diamond prospecting is in
top producer of diamonds for rings behindNunavut in Northern Ontario, where the number
Botswana and Russia.Two of the largest diamondof prospecting permits grew to 1,518 in 2004
mines in Canada are located very near and justfrom just 190 in 2003.Over the years, Canadian
north of the city of Yellowknife in the North WestDiamonds have earned quite a reputation for
Territories. Two mines are operated in this area -quality and integrity. As they are traceable, you
the Diavik and Ekati mines. The third big mine,know that they are not sold to fund terrorism in
called Jericho-3 just started mining operations inAngola or other African countries. Canadian
2005 in Nunavut. A fourth mine called Snapdiamonds are of very high quality with their most
Lake-4, which is in Northern Ontario (and quite aprecious characteristic being their brilliant white
bit south of the other three diamond mines) iscolor. This is especially true of the diamonds that
scheduled to begin production in 2007.Charlescome from the Ekati mines. Their purity and
Fipke and Stewart Blusson, the geologists whoclarity makes a stellar diamond engagement
originally discovered the vein of Kimberlite, ownring.According to Statistics Canada, 13.8 million
Canada's first diamond mine, the Ekati Mine, alongcarats of diamonds worth approximately $2.8
with the Australian mining conglomerate BHPbillion were mined in Canada between 1998 and
Billton. This treasure trove is expected to be in2002. This means that every day, Canadian mines
production for the next two decades. It currentlyproduce $1.5 million worth of diamonds, which is
produces four per cent of the world's finethe equivalent of a 1.5 kilogram bag full of the
diamonds.The Diavik mine is cooperatively ownedgems. Overall, Canada now produces 15% of the
by a British mining called Rio Tinto PLC and theworlds diamonds in total and this trend towards
the Aber Diamond Corp that is based in Toronto,prosperity will increase providing the weather
Ontario. It has been in production since 2003. Itcooperates and these mines are always allowed
produces 8,000,000 carats of diamonds. This mineto operate with year round efficiency.