Diamonds – Mining, Lab-Grown and Conflict/Blood – Page 45

World’s Once-Biggest Gem Field Idle as $13 Billion Said Gone – by Godfrey Marawanyika (Bloomberg News – April 13, 2016)

April 13, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

At Zimbabwe’s biggest diamond field, cattle that strayed through a sagging fence graze unattended near idled dump trucks and conveyors as police stop and check visitors’ vehicles for clearance.

Security forces and state-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Co. on Feb. 22 took over the deposits in Marange, the biggest source of diamonds by volume in 2013, according to industry analyst Paul Zimnisky.

The seizure came as President Robert Mugabe said that illicit trade in the stones has cost the economy, which has halved in size since 2000 as farm seizures slashed crop exports, more than $13 billion. The nation is the world’s biggest platinum producer after South Africa and also has chrome, gold and iron ore.

‘Shocked the world’: Suicide crisis at Attawapiskat reverberates in rare emergency debate – by John Ward (National Post – April 13, 2016)

April 13, 2016

http://news.nationalpost.com/

The Canadian Press – OTTAWA — The misery and neglect at the root of a suicide crisis on a remote northern First Nation has “shocked the world,” an NDP MP said Tuesday as the cascading tragedy in Attiwapiskat reverberated on the floor of the House of Commons.

No one can understand “how a country as rich as Canada can leave so many young children and young people behind,” said Charlie Angus, whose sprawling northern Ontario riding includes the deeply troubled and isolated aboriginal community.

“Will this minister commit to a total overhaul to ensure that every child in this country has the mental health supports that they need to have hope and a positive future?

De Beers’s diamond sales sparkle – by Allan Seccombe (Business Day – April 13, 2016)

April 13, 2016

http://www.bdlive.co.za/

DE BEERS, an Anglo American subsidiary, has notched up its third consecutive increase in rough diamond sales, with analysts forecasting a better-than-expected performance from what will be a major business in the Anglo stable.

Anglo has told the market it will focus on just 16 mines in diamonds, platinum, and copper, cutting its portfolio of 55 assets, as it strives to make inroads into about $13bn of debt, a number it wants to more than halve within four years.

De Beers, the world’s largest rough diamond producer by value, has undertaken a number of measures to correct a damaging market imbalance, with the cutting and polishing segment clogged with rough diamonds, a situation exacerbated by subdued diamond jewellery demand last year.

The Canadian First Nation suicide epidemic has been generations in the making – by Julian Brave NoiseCat (The Guardian – April 12, 2016)

April 12, 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/

The Attawapiskat First Nation, or the people of the parting rocks, as they are known in their indigenous Swampy Cree language, number roughly 2,000 souls. They live on a small Indian reserve 600 miles north of the Canadian capital of Ottawa, at the mouth of James Bay’s Attawapiskat River. This subarctic First Nation declared a state of emergency after 11 community members tried to take their own lives Saturday night.

Since last September, more than 100 Attawapiskat people have attempted suicide in what local MP Charlie Angus has described as a “rolling nightmare” of a winter. The ghastly toll reveals a grim reality with which a nation in the midst of a process of truth and reconciliation now must reckon.

Suicide does not merely roll in like a hurricane to uproot homes and families, and drown out neighborhoods before receding from where it came. No, this has been an emergency generations in the making, tacitly supported by a Canada fully willing to mine natural resources, proselytize and brutalize generations of children in residential schools, and then leave with basic housing, education systems and healthcare in a state of disrepair.

NIRB says no to Nunavut diamond project (Nunatsiaq News – April 7, 2016)

April 7, 2016

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/

Project should be “modified or abandoned,” review board says

The Nunavut Impact Review Board has recommended a diamond exploration project in the Kivalliq region be revised or scrapped due to local social and environmental concerns.

“The project has the potential to result in unacceptable adverse ecosystemic and socio-economic impacts,” the NIRB said in a screening decision issued April 4.

On its proposed Kahuna Diamond Project, located about 54 kilometres northeast of Rankin Inlet and 35 km southwest of Chesterfield Inlet, Dunnedin Ventures Inc. planned to conduct year-round diamond exploration from March 2016 to March 2018.

BLOOD DIAMOND: India has to choose between saving its tigers or becoming one of the largest diamond producers – by Manu Balachandran and Madhura Karnik (Quartz India – March 30, 2016)

March 31, 2016

http://qz.com/

India has a tough choice to make. Will it be a Rs20,520 crore ($3 billion) diamond mining project or one of the world’s most beautiful wild beasts and nearly 1,000 hectares of pristine forest with other exotic flora and fauna?

For close to a decade, this question has riled decision-makers in the country as they have weighed the pros and cons of letting Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies, look for diamonds under the Chhatarpur forests in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Now, India’s forest advisory committee—a statutory body in charge of environmental clearance—is deliberating the proposal to award the final clearance. Once the committee gives its final say, the environment ministry seldom rejects those recommendations.

[Canada] Another world class diamond discovery? – by Marc Davis (BNW News/Mineweb.com – March 28, 2016)

March 29, 2016

http://www.mineweb.com/

There have been no significant discoveries for a while.

Finding a multi-billion dollar diamond discovery is something that geologist Buddy Doyle dreams of every day. For well over a decade, it’s been his obsession.

But it would be foolish to dismiss him as a self-deluded wishful thinker. History bears testament to him being quite the opposite. Which is because he’s done it all before, unearthing a rich diamond deposit — that became the Diavik mine — in Canada’s far north, while still a relatively youthful up-and-comer. This is when he was exploration manager for Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. — a subsidiary of the world’s biggest mining company, Rio Tinto plc.

Within weeks, we’ll know if Doyle can do it again. And he likes his odds, even though they’re still a long shot at best. Now in his 50s, he’s far shrewder and scientifically savvier than the first time around, he points out.

Diamond traders ‘in shock’ following Brussels attacks – by Editor (Mining.com – March 22, 2016)

March 22, 2016

http://www.mining.com/

As authorities locked down the Belgian capital after explosions rocked the Brussels airport and subway system early Tuesday, killing at least 34 people and injuring many more, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) expressed its horror at events.

In an e-mailed statement, the WFDB sent its condolences to the families of the people killed in the bombings, wishing those injured a speedy recovery.

“It was with enormous shock that I heard about the bombings in Brussels,” said “As many thousands of members of the diamond industry around the world, I have passed through the departure halls of Brussels Zaventem airport scores of times as I left Belgium after meetings or business in Antwerp,” WFDB President Ernie Blom said.

People’s Democratic Party: Mugabe Must Step Down Over Missing $15 Billion Diamond Revenue – by Gibbs Dube (Voice of America Zimbabwe – March 17, 2016)

March 18, 2016

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

WASHINGTON DC— The alleged looting of potential diamond revenue, estimated by President Robert Mugabe to be about $15 billion, has caused a stir in the country with opposition parties urging the 92 year old Zimbabwean leader to step down.

Opposition parties claim that Mr. Mugabe’s colleagues, some top state security officials and people linked to the ruling party should be held responsible for the suspected looting of the diamonds, which was once highlighted in 2012 by Partnership Africa Canada.

Partnership Canada alleged that at least $2 billion worth of diamonds were stolen from the country’s diamond fields and ended up in the pockets of President Mugabe’s ruling elite. The same allegations were once made by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

Then Mines Minister Obert Mpofu dismissed these allegations as wishful thinking.

Diamonds suffer from oversupply, price falls in new era – by James Wilson (Financial Times – March 16, 2016)

March 17, 2016

http://www.ft.com/

Only eight years ago, De Beers celebrated the opening of Snap Lake — a landmark project for the diamond producer. The diamond mine in Canada’s remote North West Territories was De Beers’ first outside its African heartland and the first completely underground diamond mine in the country. By the end of 2014, $2.2bn had been spent on development and operations.

Yet today, not a single diamond is being produced at Snap Lake, which has been closed with the loss of more than 400 jobs as De Beers responds to one of the worst market downturns in diamonds for years. This year, De Beers will consider whether the mine has a viable future. As recently as 2014 the mine was producing 1.2m carats of diamonds annually.

The temporary closure of the mine summed up the problems facing the diamond industry during 2015, when a downturn gathered pace and led to financial pain for miners, dealers and retailers.

Profile: Eira Thomas, president and CEO, Kaminak Gold – by Nelson Bennett (Business Vancouver – March 15, 2016)

March 15, 2016

https://www.biv.com/

Diamond hunter’s golden rule: Exploration is the key

Eira Thomas still isn’t quite sure what she plans to do with the new diamond she ordered from Lucara Diamond Corp. (TSX:LUC).

That’s the Vancouver diamond mining company that, in November, announced it had unearthed the second-largest diamond ever mined – a company that she co-founded and which bears two letters from her name.

But if she decides to have it set in a gold ring, she might be able to use the gold from her latest mining venture – the Kaminak Gold Corp. (TSX-V:KAM) Coffee project in the Yukon.

NEWS RELEASE: Mountain Province Updates Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine Development

March 14, 2016

Overall project more than 87 percent complete
On plan for first production in H2 2016
Appointment of Mine General Manager

TORONTO and NEW YORK, March 14, 2016 /CNW/ – Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (“Mountain Province”, the “Company”) (TSX: MPV, NASDAQ: MDM) is pleased to announce that development of the Gahcho Kué diamond mine is progressing according to plan with the overall project more than 87 percent complete and on track for first production during H2 2016.

Patrick Evans, Mountain Province President and CEO, commented: “We continue to make excellent progress at Gahcho Kué. Key areas of focus are remaining earthworks, commissioning of the primary crusher and diamond plant, pre-stripping and stockpiling of kimberlite as well as preparations for operational readiness.”

Mountain Province is also pleased to announce that the Gahcho Kue Joint Venture has appointed Allan Rodel as the mine general manager.

2016 PDAC Distinguished Service Award Winner: Patricia Sheahan

March 10, 2018March 12, 2016

PDAC 2016 – Distinguished Service Award – Patricia Sheahan from PENDA Productions on Vimeo.

http://www.pendaproductions.com/ This video was produced by PENDA Productions, a full service production company specializing in Corporate Communications with a focus on Corporate Responsibility.

PDAC President Rod Thomas and Patricia Sheahan (Photo by Envisiondigitalphoto.com)

This award recognizes an individual who has achieved one or more of the following: made a substantial contribution to mineral exploration and mining development over a number of years; given considerable time and effort to the PDAC; made outstanding contributions to the mineral industry in the field of finance, geology, geophysics, geochemistry research, or a related activity.

Patricia Sheahan: For her unique and outstanding contribution and dedication to Canada’s minerals industry.

Patricia Sheahan, or Pat as she is better known, has a long and unique career in the minerals industry. As a leader and entrepreneur, she founded a worldwide technical information service for exploration companies focused on diamonds, base and precious metals. The subscription service, which began in 1972, has been indispensable for those in the field looking to make the next diamond discovery.