| It is said the sparkle from canadian diamond | | | | diamonds. This mine sells $100,000,000 worth |
| rings mimics the eerie and enchanting | | | | of gemstones a year. This mine is expected to |
| radiance of the Northern Lights. This is a | | | | be in production for the next two decades and |
| bit of a romantic notion as it is actually | | | | is currently responsible for providing 5% of |
| the cut of the diamond, not its national | | | | the worlds gemstone quality diamonds.The |
| identity that makes it twinkle like a | | | | Jericho-3 mine is located near the north end |
| Northern star. Still Canadian diamonds are | | | | of Contwoyto Lake in West Kitikmeot in the |
| among the whitest in the world. Thanks to | | | | Canadian Territory of Nunavut. It is operated |
| stringent government regulations in the | | | | by the Tahera Diamond Corporation, which has |
| Northwest Territories they are also extremely | | | | been researching the viability of operating |
| high quality. This Canadian reputation for | | | | the mine year round in Nunavit's harsh |
| integrity means that canadian diamond rings | | | | climate. It has only been in business for |
| are competing well in the gem stone jewelry | | | | several months but it is projected to be a |
| market.Canadian diamonds are also quite | | | | generous resource of glittering diamonds for |
| special because they have only been around | | | | at least the next eight years.You know a |
| about thirty years. Prior to their discovery | | | | diamond deposit is serious valuable when |
| in Canada's Artic north in 1985, the finest | | | | DeBeers decides to get a piece of the action. |
| quality diamonds were sourced from South | | | | The Snap Lake mine, that is scheduled to |
| Africa. This monopoly was put to an end when | | | | open next year is owned and operated by the |
| two Canadian geologists, Charles Fipke and | | | | gargantuan South African mining company. This |
| his partner Stuart Blusson discovered a large | | | | particular mine is located beneath a lake in |
| vein of Kimberlite near Lac De Gras in the | | | | the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario. |
| Yukon, Canada. This discovery was exciting | | | | The nearest community is the coastal village |
| as Kimberlite is the ideal stone-growing | | | | of Attawapiskat. This mine, which requires |
| medium for high quality diamonds. Soon after | | | | a great deal of technological innovation to |
| this, in 1991, yet another source of diamonds | | | | extract the Canadian diamonds from beneath |
| in Kimberlite was found in Nunavit in the | | | | tons of water, apparently has a rich deposit |
| Northwest Territories.The money to extract | | | | of gems that will produce for at least eight |
| these diamonds comes from the Canadian | | | | years.One of the great things about this mine |
| | | | is they have gone a long way towards making |
| government and the gemstones that are | | | | Canada's indigenous people, Indians and |
| produced are also certified by the government | | | | Eskimos, quite wealthy The mines provide |
| body. This means that unlike many diamonds | | | | high-income jobs with an average salary of |
| that you can buy today, the Canadian diamond | | | | $63,000. These are permanent jobs that are |
| can be traced back to the diamond it was | | | | currently handled by aboriginal peoples such |
| mined from. Canadian diamonds are also etched | | | | as the Dene First Nation. When you buy |
| with a serial number as well as a teensy | | | | canadian diamonds you are also supporting an |
| microscopic image of a polar bear or a maple | | | | indigenous culture.The relatively recent |
| leaf. All diamonds mined in this | | | | discoveries of these diamond mines have |
| conscientious country come with a Canadian | | | | caused a flurry of excitement, not unlike the |
| Triple Guarantee, which assures the quality | | | | Yukon Gold Rush. According to Statistics |
| and purity of the rock.In the last thirty | | | | Canada, by February 2004 prospecting |
| years, Canada has risen to become one of the | | | | companies from all over the world laid claim |
| top three producers of gemstone quality | | | | to more than 70 million acres in the |
| diamonds in the world. Although South Africa | | | | Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The most |
| produces the most diamonds, many of them are | | | | dramatic increase in diamond prospecting is |
| for industrial and technological uses. | | | | in Nunavut in Northern Ontario, where the |
| Currently Canada is the third top producer of | | | | number of prospecting permits grew to 1,518 |
| diamonds for rings behind Botswana and | | | | in 2004 from just 190 in 2003.Over the years, |
| Russia.Two of the largest diamond mines in | | | | Canadian Diamonds have earned quite a |
| Canada are located very near and just north | | | | reputation for quality and integrity. As they |
| of the city of Yellowknife in the North West | | | | are traceable, you know that they are not |
| Territories. Two mines are operated in this | | | | sold to fund terrorism in Angola or other |
| area - the Diavik and Ekati mines. The third | | | | African countries. Canadian diamonds are of |
| big mine, called Jericho-3 just started | | | | very high quality with their most precious |
| mining operations in 2005 in Nunavut. A | | | | characteristic being their brilliant white |
| fourth mine called Snap Lake-4, which is in | | | | color. This is especially true of the |
| Northern Ontario (and quite a bit south of | | | | diamonds that come from the Ekati mines. |
| the other three diamond mines) is scheduled | | | | Their purity and clarity makes a stellar |
| to begin production in 2007.Charles Fipke and | | | | diamond engagement ring.According to |
| Stewart Blusson, the geologists who | | | | Statistics Canada, 13.8 million carats of |
| originally discovered the vein of Kimberlite, | | | | diamonds worth approximately $2.8 billion |
| own Canada's first diamond mine, the Ekati | | | | were mined in Canada between 1998 and 2002. |
| Mine, along with the Australian mining | | | | This means that every day, Canadian mines |
| conglomerate BHP Billton. This treasure trove | | | | produce $1.5 million worth of diamonds, which |
| is expected to be in production for the next | | | | is the equivalent of a 1.5 kilogram bag full |
| two decades. It currently produces four per | | | | of the gems. Overall, Canada now produces 15% |
| cent of the world's fine diamonds.The Diavik | | | | of the worlds diamonds in total and this |
| mine is cooperatively owned by a British | | | | trend towards prosperity will increase |
| mining called Rio Tinto PLC and the the Aber | | | | providing the weather cooperates and these |
| Diamond Corp that is based in Toronto, | | | | mines are always allowed to operate with year |
| Ontario. It has been in production since | | | | round efficiency. |
| 2003. It produces 8,000,000 carats of | | | | |