Diamonds – Mining, Lab-Grown and Conflict/Blood – Page 51

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.

De Beers, Laurentian dig in on James Bay restoration plans – by Ella Myers (Northern Ontario Business – March 3, 2016)

March 4, 2016

http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

For the past two summers, Keri Etherington has headed out into the bush in the James Bay Lowlands to collect native plant seeds.

“My favourite part of the job was being out on the land every day,” said the environmental technician student, who was raised in Moosonee. “To get to our seed collection spots, we would have to use the boat, helicopter, or four-wheeler, so this was always fun for me. If we were lucky, we would be able to see wildlife.”

The summer program is part of a joint project between De Beers’s Victor Mine and Laurentian University’s School of the Environment, to make native plant species seed available for the restoration of land around the mine.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe says government will take over all diamond operations (Reuters U.S. – March 4, 2016)

March 4, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday that his government would take possession of all diamond operations because existing miners had robbed the country of its wealth.

Mugabe’s comments came a week after the ministry of mines ordered all mining companies to halt work and leave the Marange fields, saying they had not renewed their licenses. At the time it denied it was seizing the mines.

“The state will now own all the diamonds in the country,” Mugabe said during a two-hour interview with state broadcaster ZBC TV. “Companies that have been mining diamonds have robbed us of our wealth. That is why we have now said the state must have a monopoly,” Mugabe said.

Zimbabwe court allows firm to return to diamond fields after government ban (Reuters U.S. – March 1, 2016)

March 1, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

A Zimbabwean court has allowed the largest diamond mine in the Marange fields to return and assume control of all assets after challenging government’s decision to stop mining operations.

Zimbabwe’s mines minister on Feb. 22 ordered all nine companies operating in the diamond fields in the east of the southern African country near Mozambique to stop mining and leave because their license had expired.

Mbada Diamonds, a 50/50 venture between the government and Mauritius-registered Grandwell Holdings, on Monday won a reprieve from the High Court, which ruled that Mbada should have full control of its assets.

Zimbabwe: Gem Miners Leave Marange Worse Off – by Obey Manayiti (All Africa.com – February 28, 2016)

February 29, 2016

http://allafrica.com/

VILLAGERS in areas surrounding the diamond-rich Marange area say mining companies destroyed their livelihoods and left them in poverty that has been worsened by the El Niño-induced drought ravaging the country.

Marange and its surroundings areas are in natural region five, which is characterised by low rainfall and only a few drought resistant crops can survive the extreme weather conditions.

The plight of the communities has been worsened by unsustainable mining operations by diamond companies, which have largely contributed to serious water pollution in Save and other small rivers.

Diamond firm plans to sue Zimbabwean govt over gem mining ban – by MacDonald Dzirutwe (Reuters U.S. – February 24, 2016)

February 26, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

HARARE, Feb 24 Zimbabwe’s Diamond Mining Company (DMC) plans to sue the government for breach of contract after the Southern African nation banned gem mining in the east of the country, a company official said on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe’s mines minister on Monday ordered nine companies operating in the Marange fields to stop all mining activities and leave immediately because their licences had expired.

DMC general manager Ramzi Malik said that its joint venture contract stipulates that renewing licences was the responsibility of the government, through its state mining arm Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).

Zimbabwe orders diamond mines shut, says not nationalising – by MacDonald Dzirutwe (Reuters Africa – February 22, 2016)

February 22, 2016

http://af.reuters.com/

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe ordered diamond mining firms to stop operations immediately on Monday and leave the Marange fields as their licences have expired but denied the government was seizing the mines.

The diamond fields in the east of Zimbabwe near Mozambique are mined by nine firms. Eight, including two Chinese-run companies, are joint ventures 50 percent owned by the government and the other one is wholly owned by the state.

“The JV companies neglected or failed to renew the special (mining) grants. Some expired as far back as 2010 and others in 2013,” Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa told reporters and executives from the mines in question.

The Largest Diamond Ever Found In Angola Is 404 Carats And Nearly Flawless – by Trevor Nace (Forbes Magazine – February 17, 2016)

February 18, 2016

http://www.forbes.com/

An astounding 404.2-carat diamond, the largest diamond ever discovered in Angola , was recently unearthed. This diamond, at almost 3 inches wide is the width of a credit card and virtually flawless. The Australian diamond mining company Lucapa Diamond Company is the lucky owner of the now 27th largest diamond in the world!

The large diamond is even more rare given its Type IIa rating, 2nd from the highest rating possible for diamonds. Type IIa diamonds make up only 1 to 2% of the world’s diamonds and contain very little to no nitrogen atoms.

Pure diamonds are comprised of rigid carbon lattices, however, most diamonds have imperfections including nitrogen atoms. A typical Type IIa diamond will command a 5 to 15% premium and could be more in rarer large diamonds.

Behind the scenes with DMCC chief at Caracas diamond talks – by Frank Kane (The National – February 16, 2016)

February 16, 2016

http://www.thenational.ae/

CARACAS // The UAE has been handed a 24-carat challenge: how to get the disparate voices and conflicting interests of the international diamond business acting in unison for the good of an industry that is facing serious issues.

Last week, Ahmed bin Sulayem, best known as the force behind the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre – the DMCC, where the emirate’s diamond industry has flourished over the past decade – took the first steps towards meeting that challenge in crisis-torn Venezuela.

The 38-year-old DMCC chairman was the person chosen by the UAE Ministry of Economy to take up the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process (KP), which was set up in 2003 to stem the flow of “blood diamonds” on to the world’s markets. It has proved to be a controversial organisation.

[DeBeers diamond mining and Attawapiskat] Negotiation Is Better Than Conflict – by Xavier Kataquapit (NetNewsLedger.com – February 10, 2016)

February 10, 2016

http://www.netnewsledger.com/

Xavier Kataquapit is a First Nations writer and columnist, who is originally from Attawapiskat Ontario on the James Bay coast.

THUNDER BAY – My people have come a long way in obtaining a life with more opportunity and hope. Through education First Nation people all over Canada are moving into leadership roles in government and private enterprise in Native initiatives and non Native as well. We have very intelligent, well educated, strong and capable leaders in politics, law, education, business and every sector of Canadian society.

I have seen much progress in First Nations first hand with the communities that make up Wabun Tribal Council up here in Northeastern Ontario. Over the past 20 years I have watched these First Nations led by their Chiefs and supported by an administration headed by Shawn Batise as they began to lobby government and the private sector resource industries. Over the years Wabun has become internationally known for negotiating all kinds of agreements with government and the private sector that provide benefits to Wabun First Nations.

Wabun is well recognized across Canada for its expertise in this area and Shawn and the Chiefs have shared their knowledge with other Native organizations. For so many years Native people were very much left out of the loop when it came to participating in any development on traditional lands.

De Beers halts exploration of diamond mine near Attawapiskat, Ont. (CBC News Sudbury – February 08, 2016)

February 8, 2016

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/

Bulk sampling of mine extension may be pushed back as First Nation voices concerns

The De Beers diamond company has ceased exploration of the Tango extension near the Victor mine due to local pushback. The Victor mine is located in the James Bay lowlands of northern Ontario, and is the province’s only diamond mine.

DeBeers is hoping to extend mining operations into a nearby deposit called Tango, but first needs to determine it’s feasibility. The company said the exploration is required as the Victor mine enters its final years.

Tom Ormsby, a spokesman for De Beers Canada, said the company has halted its plan to take a bulk sample of the new mining grounds.