Construction of the first diamond mine in the province of Quebec

The increase in world diamond production by almost 4% in value last year coincided with a drop of almost 4% in terms of volume. The data published on August 25, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, indicate that with the increase in prices, the volume of receipts has remained, despite a decline in output. But if optimistic forecasts are made in December, new sources will be needed to meet demand. One of the most promising places is Canada, which, according to the Kimberley Process, holds its third place in the global volume of production at a cost, even taking into account that Russia has pressed Botswana in second place.

Most recently, Zimtu Capital TSXV: ZC, which on August 25 announced the start of exploration works on the Munn Lake project, which is led by this company and a partner with a stake in the project, began to operate in the region. Despite the work carried out between 1996 and 2007, the cost of which is estimated at $ 5.7 billion and during which two diamond-bearing kimberlites were discovered, a 14,000-hectare site still requires modern geological prospecting.

Earlier, the extracted sample weighing 581 kilograms from the kimberlite Yury (Yuryi) on this project showed the presence of 226 diamonds, among which there are 62 macrodiamonds larger than 0.5 mm in diameter. A sample weighing 42 kg from the kimberlite of Munn Lake gave two macrodiamonds and 12 microdiamonds. Over 2,500 samples allowed the discovery of at least five distinct groups of kimberlite indicator minerals (KIM) on the territory of possession.

Zimtu now has a sampling team to find KIM for evaluating previously conducted samples and "conducting an in-depth study of the diamond potential of each site".

Earlier this month, Arctic Star Exploration TSXV: ADD announced plans to conduct exploration work on its 54,000-hectare T-Rex site in the Lac des Gras region. In the course of earlier work, dozens of kimberlites were found, most of which are diamondiferous, as the company claims. Previously, the results of a gross sample weighing 436 kg from Jack Pine kimberlite, which did not meet the requirements of the standard 43-101, showed the presence of 572 micro-diamonds.

Another 299 microdiamonds were found in a 360 kg sample from Jack Pine kimberlite, obtained during drilling in 2005, according to the results meeting the requirements of 43-101.

In June of this year, the Arctic Star reported revised North Arrow Minerals TSXV: NAR for Redemption, their joint venture in the Lac de Gra. The initial study of terrestrial geophysical data indicates that there are a number of targets suitable for the winter drilling program in 2016, Arctic Star said. Her partner is also conducting a survey of surface geology data in order to better define and interpret a group of kimberlite-satellite minerals at the South Coppermine site in the area.

Canterra Minerals TSXV: CTM, which has 97,220 hectares of land in the Lac des Gras region, said in June that it identified several sites "that guarantee further detailed geological exploration, including drilling," along with other sites on which Boulder sampling of boulder clay and geophysical studies.  

Last month, Margaret Lake Diamonds TSXV: The DIA announced an agreement to be approved by TSXV regarding the acquisition of the remaining 40 percent ownership in the Margaret Lake area, after which the company will become the full owner. The company plans to conduct a winter drilling program to check the sites found during last year's aerogravimetric survey. The area of 19,716 hectares is located close to the northwest of the Kennady North project of Kennady Diamonds (TSXV: KDI), the most advanced project in the region, apart from the future mine of Gahcho Kué, which Kennady surrounds with three Parties.

Kennady, assessing four kimberlites on an area of 61,000 hectares, reported on 26 August results for a 443-ton gross sample from the Kelvin tube. Out of 16,247 diamonds mined in four zones of the "most diluted" southeast part of the deposit, 35 stones weighed in excess of one carat. These zones showed an average of 2.02 carats per tonne of ore, as for diamonds larger than 0.85 millimeters.

Earlier this month, Kennady conducted a private placement of securities for $ 4 million.

Diamond Mines of Canada: in operation or in the process of improvement

Canada is in the forefront of countries trying to compensate for the supply shortage of diamonds, and new mines are being commissioned as others are depleted. In addition to three enterprises in the Northwest Territories and the Victor (Victor) mine of De Beers in Ontario, the other two are under development.

Of the three mines in the Lac de Gra Region, the remaining life of Ekati, the controlling stake in Dominion Diamond's (TSX: DDC), is about five years, although the development of the Jay deposit may potentially add another 11 years .

Diavik Mine is a joint venture of Rio Tinto NYE: RIO / Dominion in the ratio of 60/40 shares, will work until 2013 with the introduction of the fourth tube.

The Snap Lake De Beers mine can work until 2028, although production volumes will fall. In March, the world giant said that it might be necessary to change the license for water use to avoid premature closure. In June, the Mackenzie Valley Subsoil Use and Water Use Commission recommended that the government of the Northwest Territories comply with the application.

De Beers' Victor mine, the only diamond mine in Ontario, will face depletion in 2018. The company hopes to postpone this gloomy event by developing the Tango kimberlite (Tango), a small deposit with a smaller content, located seven kilometers to the north-west.

Stornoway Diamond TSX: SWY, currently in charge of the construction of the first diamond mine in the province of Quebec, has planned to commission the Renard mine at the end of next year and the start of industrial production in the second quarter of 2017. Although the potential resources continue to increase, the company estimates that the Renard mine will produce 1.6 million carats per year for 11 years, or about 2% of the global supply.

At the fourth mine in the Lac de Gra Region, which is to become the "largest and richest new diamond mine in the world", the start-up in accordance with the schedule will take place in the second half of 2016. Mountain Province Diamonds TSX: MPV and De Beers, a JV partner, expect that the Gahcho Kew mine will produce an average of 4.5 million carats per year for twelve years.

On the project Star-Orion South, the controlling stake of which belongs to Shore Gold (TSX: SGF) and which is located in Fort A la Corne in Saskatchewan, a spring drilling program was conducted to clarify the resources of the kimberlite Orion South. Although the project was justified in 2011, and in December it passed a federal environmental review, now Shore plans a re-justification to reduce capital costs.  

In addition to the regions around existing and future mines, in the province of Nunavut and in the Pikoo area of Saskatchewan province, significant exploration work is also carried out to find diamonds.

http://resourceclips.com/2015/08/27/looking-to-lac-de-gras/