The Diavik Diamond Mine
Formed deep underground more than a
billion years ago by the mysterious forces
of nature, the Diavik diamond was thrust
closer to the earth’s surface by powerful
volcanic eruptions, bringing these
brilliant gems within our reach.
In 1991, after years of exploration, first
traces of these diamonds were discovered
in the remote and treeless Barren Lands
of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Twelve
years later, global mining company Rio
Tinto opened the Diavik Diamond Mine,
now recognized as one of the premier
diamond mines in the world — not just for
its stunning natural stones, but for its
innovative engineering, environmentally
sustainable mining practices, and
collaborative work with indigenous
communities.
From ab ove, t his hole app e ar s o t her wor ldly, as if i t were on a dis t an t p l an e t . B u t i t is a c tually
p ar t o f t h e D iav ik D iamon d Min e, t wo diamond - r ich k imb er l i te pip es ,
t h e “ro o t s” o f sm all volc ano es — ex tending ab ou t eigh t y - f i ve s tor ies dow nw ard .
T h e pip es si t un der t he w a ter s o f a l arg e l ake c alle d L ac de Gr as . Hidden b ene a t h t his dir t and ro ck and ice —
in s om e o f t h e r ich es t pip es in t h e wor ld — are pre cious ,
shar ply e dg e d w hi te diamonds . F inding t hem is a m agni f icen t t ask : E a ch ton
o f ore p ulle d f rom t h e hole y ields jus t 3. 9 c ar a t s .
A Sense of Place
Their sparkle has mesmerized the world for generations. The first diamond deposits
were discovered in India as early as the eighth century B.C. By the eighteenth century
A.D., they were found in Brazil, and by the mid-nineteenth century, in South Africa.
Those three countries remained the dominant sources for centuries. Then in the 1950s,
deposits were found in Russia, and in Australia in the 1970s. The early 1990s brought
us to perhaps the most promising diamond frontier: Canada’s Northwest Territories.
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E S O U R C E
Diamonds have traditionally been sorted by size, color, and clarity, not by country of
origin, meaning customers cannot determine from where a particular stone hails. But
Rio Tinto diamonds are different: Each has a traceable history, a story to be told and
cherished along with the stone, whether it’s from the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada,
the Argyle Mine in Australia, or the Murowa Mine in Zimbabwe.
T he ter r i tor y in t he w hi te b ox (opp osite pag e) is w here F ipke an d B lus s on con cen t r a te d
t h eir s e arch , nor t h o f t h e Gre a t Sl ave L ake an d t h e ci t y o f Yellow k nif e. T ha t are a is basic ally f l a t ,
hav ing b e en r aze d by gl acier s , b u t is r if e w i t h l akes , p on ds , s t re ams , and muske gs .
M O D E R N -DAY E X P L O R E R S
In the late seventies, Charles Fipke, a rugged prospector, and Stewart Blusson, an
equally adventurous geologist and helicopter pilot, ventured out into the Canadian
North in search of diamonds. They used the geology of the land as their guide, relying
on, among other things, billions-of-years-old Precambrian rock called Archean. The
premise was that since Archeans were the clue to every other diamond-rich spot on
Stew a r t B l u s s o n
C h a r l e s Fi p ke
earth, the same should hold true in northern Canada. In 1991, after almost fifteen
years of perseverance, they discovered that premise was right.
5
Kimberlite: Searching for the Right Clues
Most diamonds are found in kimberlite,
but not all kimberlite contains diamonds.
Worldwide, there are roughly 5,000 known
kimberlite deposits, but only one percent
are considered to be worth mining. For
centuries, miners panned rivers and
stream-beds, hoping to find diamonds.
These gems were actually far from their
original home, due to millions of years of
erosion. Not until the 1800s did geologists
discover kimberlite to be the diamond’s
source.
Kimberlite, a dark, carbon-dioxide-rich
rock, provides geologists a glimpse of what
lies beneath. Embedded in it are a variety
of heavy minerals called indicators,
which include distinctive olivine,
garnets, and chrome diopside. Explorers
use these minerals as “breadcrumbs” of
W i t hin t h e pip es are bi t s o f sur f ace his tor y upro o te d by volc anic ex plosions . T his pie ce o f re d wo o d uncovere d a t t he Diav ik Mine is a remin der o f a
w ar m er cl ima te t ha t once envelop e d t his now ic y l an d .
sorts, following the indicator trail with
the hopes of locating diamond-laden
kimberlite pipes.
A b ou t one bill ion ye ar s ag o – long b e f ore
T here t he diamon ds s a t f or mill ions an d
O ver t h e mill ions o f in ter vening ye ar s , t h e
t he exis ten ce o f l i f e on e ar t h as we k now
mill ions o f ye ar s , un t il t hey were t hr us t tow ard
rem aining re d wo o ds an d t h e volc ano tops were
i t – diamonds f or m e d f ar b ene a t h t he sur f ace,
t he sur f ace by molten k imb er l i te a m ere 55
s cr ap e d aw ay by erosion – t he mos t re cen t o f
un der t h e ver y sp e cial condi t ions o f high
mill ion ye ar s ago. Ro ck an d ash were b l as te d
w hich w as due to re ce ding gl a cier s t r ansp or t ing
pres sure and rel a t i vely low temp er a tures .
in to t he air in an ex p losi ve cloud , engulf ing
bi t s o f k imb er l i te miles aw ay. T he challeng e f or
S even t y - f i ve to 10 0 miles ab ove t hos e
par t s o f a re d wo o d f ores t . T h e debr is coll aps e d
ex p lorer s w as to t r a ce t hos e dislo c a te d pie ces
diamon ds w as a sur f ace covere d w i t h o ce an ,
back in to t he groun d an d , on ce co ole d , f or m e d
(t he indic a tor s) back to t he s ource.
as t he con t in en t s ha d no t ye t f or m e d .
a conic al “pip e.”
FPO
M t . St . H elens , M ay, 19 8 0
The Great Staking Rush of 1991
When word spread of Fipke and Blusson’s
discovery, there was a massive scramble
by prospectors to claim mineral rights
to their own piece of land, sparking the
largest staking rush in world history.
The task required more than markings
on a map. It had to be done the oldfashioned way – in person, with wooden
stakes. Helicopter pilots would fly out in
often freezing weather, sometimes just
feet from the ground. Each stake had to
be hammered by hand into the frozen
snow and ice. Companies both big and
small vied for land, not knowing exactly
which plots contained diamonds and
which did not.
ONE M A N’S GOOD FORT UNE
Gren Thomas, founder of Aber Resources
(now Harry Winston Diamond Mines Ltd.
partial owner of the Diavik Diamond
Mine), recruited other small companies
to pool their money and go in together.
In one frenzied, auspicious helicopter
staking mission, Aber took the 50,000
acres under Lac De Gras that would
eventually become the Diavik Mine. But
at that point, no one realized just how
precious that claim was.
T h e are a up f or gr abs w as m as si ve: 50 mill ion acres . T he v ar ious color s show n in t his map
(opp osi te p ag e) repres en t t h e cl aims o f hun dre ds o f prosp e c tor s . All o f t he cl aims are f ashione d
f rom 1, 50 0 - s quare - f o o t b lo ck s , e ach o f w hich had to b e s t ake d by hand . A wo o den s t ake w i t h a hand - mar ke d m e t al t ag (ab ove)
may b e small , bu t i t has gr and impl ic a t ions . H el icop ter s w i t h glob al p osi t ioning s a tell i te
s ys tems (top) were t h e mo dus op er andi dur ing ex plor a t ion .
9
Staking the land was the priority — the
strategy was to claim whatever you could,
as fast as you could. Then it was time for
the hard work, to actually search for the
diamonds on the land that had been
claimed. Fipke and Blusson were the first
ones in. Then Aber brought in its team to
search the neighboring plots it had staked
on Lac de Gras, just south of Fipke’s land.
A BR I L L I A N T DI SCOV ERY
Eira Thomas, daughter of Aber founder
Gren Thomas, had just graduated from
Exploring the Land
the University of Toronto with a geology
degree when she began working with her
father. By early 1994, she was Aber’s chief
geologist on the Diavik exploration
project at Lac de Gras. She and her team,
made up of Aber and Rio Tinto geologists,
eventually found the kimberlite they were
searching for. As they continued to drill
beneath Lac de Gras, even under treacherous spring melting conditions, they
unearthed a diamond just shy of
two carats — so rare in a sample that it
suggested phenomenal potential. Eira
slept with the precious sample under her
pillow until she could get it to her father
in Vancouver.
It turns out, Eira’s team had discovered
arguably the highest-grade diamond pipe
in the world — what would soon become
the A154 pipe at the Diavik Mine.
Eir a T homas and her te am (top le f t) us e d k imb er l ite core s amp les to
de ter mine i f t h e ro ck b elow w as diamon dif erous . A comp u ter mo del (top r igh t) maps t he A15 4 pip e f rom t he many core s amples t aken . A core s amp le sp ar kles
w i t h in dic a tor min er al s (ab ove).
10
Today, a camp east of t he Diav i k Diamond Mine
is used as an outpost for ongoing exploration.
Yellowknife
The Nor thern Hub
T he ci t y o f Yellow k nif e is t h e cen ter o f a c t i v i t y in t h e N or t hwes t Ter r i tor ies .
I t is a m ere 512 k ilom e ter s s ou t h o f t h e A rc t ic Circle, sur rounde d by w ilder nes s and renow ne d f or i t s ou tdo or
re cre a t ion , ab or iginal culture, midnigh t sun , an d auror a b ore al is (aka nor t h er n l igh t s).
I t is t h e c api t al o f t h e N or t hwes t Ter r i tor ies , an d hom e to ab ou t 20,0 0 0 p e ople, a l arg e par t o f t he p opul a t ion o f t he en t ire re gion .
In t h e v as t an d sp ar s ely p op ul a te d N or t h , Yellow k nif e is t he cen ter f or no t jus t mining bu t al s o t r ansp or t a t ion ,
communic a t ion , re cre a t ion , comm erce, tour ism , he alt h c are, and gover nm en t .
13
Named after the Yellowknives Dene,
indigenous peoples who moved into the
area in the early 1800s, Yellowknife has
a storied past. The town was originally
inhabited by the Dogrib people, who call
it Somba K’e, meaning “money place,” and
has long been a part of the fur trade.
Hints of gold were found at Yellowknife in
1896, but the area was remote and, at the
time, virtually impossible to reach. It took
the discovery of pitchblende (the principal source of uranium and radium) in
1930 —hundreds of miles north of Yellowknife — to bring a transportation infrastructure to the area. Significant amounts
of gold were discovered in Yellowknife Bay
in 1934, and by 1936, Yellowknife was a
A Rich Mining Histor y
boomtown. With its mining-supported
infrastructure, it was granted the status of
capital of the Northwest Territories in 1967.
After more than a half-century of operation, Yellowknife’s gold mines would, as
all mines one day do, close down, severely
affecting the North’s economy. But as the
gold ore diminished, the North’s diamond
mines moved into production. And by
2003, mining employment was back to
historic highs. But to avoid a repeat of
gold’s boom-bust cycle, Diavik took a
sustainable approach. Working with its
neighbors, most of whom are Aboriginal
communities, Diavik committed to protecting the land, water, and wildlife, and to
T he remnan t s o f pas t indus t r ies are ev iden t in Yellow k ni f e.
A n ab an don e d g old min e (ab ove); a f ur t r ader ’s c abin on t h e shore o f L ac de Gr as (top).
B e c aus e t he ground in Yellow k nif e is s ol id gr ani te and c anno t b e dug in to,
t hes e hous es in Yellow k nif e’s O ld Tow n (opp osite pag e) are b uilt p erch e d a top t h e
jag g e d e dg es o f a hill .
providing training, employment, and business benefits locally.
the diamond capital of North America
15
This is a land of snow-covered islands
and lakes that remain frozen nine or ten
months of the year. The challenge for
Diavik was to understand the patterns
of the land and develop a plan for a mine
that would be sustainable over a period
of time, leaving the environment with
the least ecological impact possible.
Local leaders were consulted from
the beginning, even before the mine
was built, and Diavik representatives
frequently met with these community
elders to update them on all aspects of
the mine. The biggest concern was
making sure the integrity of the land and
water remained intact and that caribou,
which migrate through the Lac de Gras
area twice yearly, were protected.
A Plan with a Purpose
Full op er a t ion
W hen t he mine clos es
T h e p er sp e c t i ve on t h e le f t (ab ove) shows t he mine in f ull op er a t ion ,
jus t o f f t he coas t o f E as t Isl and , w hich si t s in t h e middle o f L a c de Gr as . Four k imb er l i te pip es are a t
t h e si te (t h e f our t h pip e, however, is no t show n). T h e p er sp e c t i ve on t he r igh t depic t s w ha t t he mine
w ill lo ok l ike a f ter i t s closure, w h en t h e w a ter s o f L ac de Gr as are once again le t in , t r ans f or ming t h e min e d are as in to f ish habi t a t .
17
In this effort to preserve the environment,
Diavik was faced with a puzzle: Mining
underneath a body of water requires that
the waters be temporarily moved aside.
How could it be done — and in such a way
that it would be safe for the lake? The
answer was to engineer and construct a
dike, one unlike any that had been built
Borrowing the Lake Water
before (see left).
First, the loose lake-bottom sediment had
to be dredged so the structure could be
put on a solid foundation — all the while
protecting the rest of the lake with a
floating curtain. Workers then placed a
rock-fill embankment, set a watertight
concrete wall, and put in equipment to
ensure the permafrost would stay frozen.
A water collection system was installed
inside the dike to collect the inevitable,
albeit small leakage.
The goal was also to set up a system that
T his diagr am o f t he dike (ab ove) shows how t he l ake is b eing con t aine d .
would use as little water as possible from
the lake itself for the day-to-day mining
T he 2 . 4 - mile s t r uc ture under cons t r uc t ion (b elow). T h e dike in e ar ly
spr ing (opp osi te p ag e), b e f ore t h e snow has b e gun to m elt .
operations, instead recycling water by
moving it around according to its quality
and to the needs at any given location.
In 2004, this system recycled 1.7 million
cubic meters, meeting two-thirds of the
mine’s water requirements.
18
keeping the waters of Lac de Gras at bay
at Diavik, wildlife has the right of way
In the same way Diavik created a plan to
preserve the land and water, it had a plan
for protecting the area’s wildlife. Before
the water was pumped from behind the
dike, more than 5,000 fish were removed,
returning them to the lake or giving
them to local communities. And to ensure
that the fish continue to thrive here,
parts of the dike will become ideal aquatic
habitats after the mine has closed.
Other wildlife that has long prospered in
the North is of concern as well. Caribou
are an essential part of the aboriginal life
and sustenance, and are fiercely protected,
as are the area’s eighty-four bird species
and sixteen mammal species: grizzly
bears, wolves, foxes, and wolverines,
among others. Portions of the Bathurst
caribou pass through the Lac de Gras
region during their spring and fall
migrations, on their way to and from the
tundra and the Northern forests. To leave
their path unobstructed, waste-rock piles
will be contoured so the animals can
easily pass over them as they make their
annual journey.
Respecting the Wild
In w in ter, c ar ib ou migr a te s ou t h in to t h e t re e l in e, w here i t ’s w ar m er ; in spr ing ,
t h ey m ake t h eir w ay b ack to t h e tun dr a . C ar ib ou signs
are p os te d on all mine haul roads to w ar n dr i ver s; and emp loye es are t r ain e d ex tensi vely
on how b es t to pro ce e d aroun d t he animal s .
21
Fueling the mine
D iav ik’s eleven l arg e haul t r uck s a ccoun t f or jus t a f r a c t ion o f t h e mining
op er a t ion’s f uel ne e ds . Dies el s tor ag e t ank s prov ide f uel f or t hes e an d
o t her mobile e quipm en t , as well as f or dies el p ower g ener a tor s an d f or
h e a t ing .
B e c aus e t he mine is remo te and f uel is dif f icult to t r ansp or t acros s
t he ice, cons er v a t ion is par amoun t . T he he a t pro duce d by t he dies el
g ener a tor s is re c ycle d to w ar m s om e o f t he pl an t buildings . In f a c t ,
re c ycl ing incre as es t he e f f icienc y o f t he dies el g ener a tor s , f rom 4 0
p ercen t to over 70 p ercen t . U n f or tuna tely, t his do esn’ t cre a te enough
he a t to supply t he c amp and o t her buildings , s o a b oiler pl an t prov ides
addi t ional energ y a t p e ak demand — dur ing a cold w in ter, f or example.
23
Getting There: The Road to Diavik
Ice can be a blessing and a curse in these
frigid Barren Lands. With no year-round
road access, the lifeline to this remote
mine is a seasonal ice road. It was built
decades ago to resupply the region’s
other mines, well before diamonds were
discovered in the area. It’s just pure luck
that Diavik’s diamond-rich pipes were
located so close to the road.
The ice road is open in the coldest months
for about ten weeks, from late January
through early April, when it is frozen
enough to withstand the weight of trucks
transporting materials, machinery, and
fuel. Travel time from Yellowknife to
Diavik can be as long as nineteen hours
for heavy loads, with speeds carefully
con-trolled to protect the ice. If a truck
travels too quickly, it will create waves
underneath that have the potential to
break the ice at the shoreline.
From l a te A pr il t hrough e ar ly J anuar y —
w h en t h e ro a d is no t v iab le — ma ter ial s are brough t in by aircr a f t (ab ove),
w hich is more cos tly b u t n e ces s ar y non e t h eles s .
25
Work Together, Grow Together
The health of the neighboring communities is crucial to a sustainable mining
operation. Diavik has made a commitment to the people of the North — to
provide training, employment, and
business opportunities where there have
been few economic prospects in the past.
Northerners and aboriginal Northerners
are encouraged to not just take these
jobs, but to also establish their own
businesses that can contract services
to Diavik, as well as to other mines in
the region.
And the effort is succeeding. Seventy
percent of Diavik’s workers are
Northerners, over half of which are
aboriginal Northerners, surpassing the
mine’s projection. And because of a
commitment to support local businesses,
Diavik purchases more than 70 percent
of goods and services locally.
In addition to jobs, the mine improves
quality of life in the region. The ice arena
Diavik helped to build in Yellowknife in
November 2004, for example, affords both
children and adults the opportunity to
partake in the region’s beloved ice sports.
Hundre ds o f ab or iginal s , r ais e d in n e ar by communi t ies , now have jobs as miner s .
M any o f t h em com e f rom f amil ies t ha t on ce m ade a l i v ing t r apping f ur, an indus t r y
t ha t is no long er lucr a t i ve here. B u t t he diamond - mining in dus t r y
br ings n ew opp or tuni t ies to t h e are a .
27
The Pit
Diav ik w ill b e a combina t ion o f op en - pi t an d un dergroun d mining .
For op en - pit mining , exp losi ves are us e d to b l as t t he hard gr ani te ore, cre a t ing s tep - l ike ter r ace d w all s w hich supp or t
roads t ha t spir al s a f ely dow n to t h e lowes t p oin t . T h e lo os en e d gr ani te an d dar ker k imb er l i te
are haule d o f f in a f le e t o f t r uck s , up t he r amping p a t hw ays , t wen t y - f our hour s a day. W h en t h e pi t even tually b e com es
to o de ep f or op en - pi t mining , an un derground tunnel — b ore d a t a s a f e enough angle t ha t vehicles c an t r aver s e i t —
w ill re a ch de ep er in to t h e pip es .
29
T he pi t is small by mining s t andards and con t ains
31
t wo f er t ile k imb er l i te pip es (t h e t wo dar k sp o t s opp osi te). E a ch is c are f ully moni tore d by
g e olo gis t s f or diamond con ten t as ever y l ayer is ex p os e d .
31
33
The Miners
To day ’s min er s m ay no t b e as you imagine t hem . T hey are g e olo gis t s ,
b l as ter s , hauler s , t r uck dr i ver s , m e chanic s , g e o te chnicians , welder s , and human res ource manag er s . T hey ’re wom en and m en .
appren t ices and ve ter ans . T hey ’re N or t her n er s an d ab or iginal s . Con t r a c te d wor ker s an d consult an t s .
S om e com e we ekly f rom Yellow k nif e (f our days on , t hre e o f f ), w hile o t her s t r avel f rom acros s C anada f or ro t a t ions t ha t c an
l as t we ek s (t y pic ally t wo on , t wo o f f ).
Processing the rock
35
36
Washing, Shaking, Crushing, Swirling
The processing plant is where the
diamonds bid farewell to the kimberlite
that has traveled with them for eons.
Gravity, water, and X-ray technology,
not chemicals, are used to separate the
diamonds from the ore.
This plant, like all of Diavik, was
constructed with sustainability in mind.
It stands eleven stories high with
criss­c rossing, steeply angled conveyors —
a design that reduces the footprint of the
structure, thus minimizing the impact on
its surroundings. To function, it requires
enormous amounts of energy and water,
much of which is recycled many times
over.
To extract the diamonds, the large
kimber-lite rocks are carefully broken
down into smaller and smaller pieces as
they travel through the machinery. Water
and iron sand are added to the crushed
rock to create a slurry, which is then
spun around in a centrifugal machine to
separate out the heavier diamonds and
indicator rock. Finally, the concentrate of
crushed stones passes by an X-ray, where
each diamond is identified and then
blown off the conveyor belt with a blast
of air. The garnets and other indicators
are left behind.
Big k imb er l i te ro ck s are cr ush e d an d r ins e d (opp osi te pag e) — ag ain an d
ag ain — un t il t hey are small enough to b e s w ir le d and di v ide d . T h e le f tover
bi t s o f k imb er l i te an d color f ul g ar n e t s (ab ove) are no t v aluable in a t r adi t ional
s ens e, b u t t h ey are w ha t le d g e olo gis t s to t h e diamonds in t he f ir s t pl ace.
The Shape of Things
The Diavik diamond in the rough is a
beautiful crystalline form, recognized
by experts as an especially white
diamond, lustrous and filled with a
brilliant fire. Composed of microscopic
carbon atoms, diamonds are full of
angles and parallel surfaces that grow
geometrically. Rough stones have an
array of surface textures — from being
wonderfully smooth to having triangular
trigons with delicate patterns of
arrowheads in formation, looking like
the first freeze on Lac de Gras.
38
Common diamon d cr ys t al s f oun d in D iav ik’s pip es are t he o c t ahe dron and maccle.
T h e o c t ah e dron (ab ove) is eigh t- side d , w i t h a f or m w hos e p oin t s would f i t p er f e c tly inside a pure cub e.
Shar p - e dg e d o c t ahe drons are ide al f or sl icing in t wo, jus t ab ove t h e midp oin t ;
t h e result is on e l arg e an d on e sm all p ol ish e d diamon d . T hey are o f ten p ol ishe d in to s quare shap es such as
t h e Pr in ces s cu t , b u t t hos e t ha t are sl igh tly roun de d are p ol ishe d in to round br ill ian t cu t s tones .
T he maccle (top), al s o k now n as a t w inne d cr ys t al , develops w h en t wo or more
dis t inc t cr ys t al s b e com e conne c te d , t ak ing on a t r iangul ar pro f ile. M a ccles t y pic ally are ide al f or cu t t ing
in to a shallow single diamon d in f an c y shap es l ike he ar t s and t r ill ian t s .
41
After processing, diamonds are shipped
to the Diavik product splitting facility
in Yellowknife, where they are cleaned,
sorted by size and grade, and divided
between the joint venture partners (Harry
Grading, Splitting, and Sor ting
Winston receives 40 percent; Rio Tinto,
60 percent). Every parcel packaged in
Yellowknife is inspected and weighed
by Canadian officials before it embarks
on the journey to Antwerp, the diamond
capital of the world.
At the Rio Tinto diamonds' sales and
marketing offices in Antwerp, highly
skilled sorters batch the diamonds
according to size, color, purity and
potential value. Sales brokers then direct
the varied diamond rough to customers,
called “diamantaires,” for cutting and
polishing in diamond-cutting centers
around the world: Antwerp, New York,
Tel Aviv, and India, as well as back to
Canada, where new diamond-cutting and
polishing plants have been established.
Rough diamonds are f ir s t s or te d a t t h e min e by size an d color ( le f t). O n ce in
A n t wer p (top), t h e diamonds are s or te d ye t again by size, color, an d p o ten t ial v alue, by as s es sing t h eir shap e:
I f t h ey are de em e d “m ake ab les ,” t h eir f or m is o f a high enough qual i t y t ha t t hey c an
b e p ol ish e d as is , no cu t t ing n e e de d; if “s aw ables ,” t hey would b e b es t cu t in to t wo s tones;
an d i f "cl i v ag e,” t h ey would b e cu t in to mult ip le pie ces . Rio T in to diamonds are s or te d and
p acke d in b oxes cle ar ly m ar ke d w i t h t he coun t r y and mine o f or igin (ab ove).
42
The Diamantaire
In Northern aboriginal culture, every part of a caribou that has been hunted is put to
use. The same is true of diamonds: All find a place, whether it be in an engagement
ring or a piece of machinery. Each Rio Tinto Diamonds customer, recognized as a diamantaire, has been selected for his or her ability to evaluate, process, cut, polish, and
sell meticulously assembled assortments of diamonds to the appropriate markets.
The work of the diamantaire is a time-honored profession steeped in history. It requires
skills and knowledge that have been passed across generations of family businesses.
Just as an architect understands every element of his building, the diamantaire is
expert at reading a diamond’s natural grain and imperfections, and planning how to
capture the greatest amount of carats and the most brilliant cut.
D e ciding how b es t to cu t a diamon d is an ar t f or m t ha t to day involves a combina t ion o f ins t inc t and high te chnolo g y. Tr adi t ional loup es , micros cop es , s c anning te chnolo g y, an d 3 - D s o f t w are
are us e d in combina t ion w i t h hand - w r i t ten no t a t ions (ab ove). T his 56 - c ar a t D iav ik s ton e (opp osi te p ag e) w ill b e
cu t in to s ever al pie ces o f v ar y ing shap es an d sizes .
O f ten t im es , diam an t aires coll ab or a te on t h e l arg es t s tones , t ak ing mon t hs to s t r a te gize and pl an .
A diam an t aire (top) us es a loup e to obs er ve t h e diamond’s gr ain and inclusions (na tur al imp er f e c t ions).
Just as we can equate the diamantaire with an architect, master cutters and polishers
are like the fine woodworkers or stone masons who implement an architect’s vision.
Using the diamantaire’s markings, they give form to the rough diamond, using traditional handcraft complemented by state-of-the-art tools.
Based upon the marked instructions, each “sawable” stone is sectioned, or sawn into
two or more parts. Next, the diamond is given its shape, known as bruting — a process
in which two diamonds spin against each other to create the basic round mass.
Then it is polished to produce the facets, a technique called crossworking. To elicit
Cutting and polishing
maximum fire and vibrancy, each facet is then brillianteered, or polished, to a flawlessly smooth finish.
Each of these disciplines involves lengthy training and apprenticeship. The stakes are
high. For example, a diamond can explosively shatter into pieces if the saw or polishing
wheel encounters a difficult or unexpected knot.
44
Te chnolo g y is r apidly changing t he te chniques us e d to cu t t he s tones . N ow t he mos t
prev alen t to ol s are high - sp e e d r azor - t hin b l a des (ab ove le f t) an d l as er s . B u t a t on e t im e, t h e job w as don e by cle aver s ,
w i t h a s w if t an xie t y - f ille d t hw a ck . D iamon ds are p ol ish e d using a spinning w h e el oil- r ubb e d
w i t h diamon d dus t (ab ove r igh t). M as ter cu t ter s (opp osi te pag e), w ho si t clos e
by t h e diam an t aires , t ake c are o f t h e l arg e, mos t v aluable s tones in ci t ies such as N ew Yor k , A n t wer p, Tel Av i v,
and M umbai (B ombay). Smaller diamon ds are in cre asingly s en t to cos t- e f f icien t cu t t ing cen ter s in In dia ,
C hina , A r m enia , and S ou t h Af r ic a .
A Diamond’s Gif t
Diavik diamonds typically make excellent
polished gems due to the range of top
white colors and consistent shapes.
Formed naturally under the luminous
northern lights, some say they have been
infused with the mystery and brilliance of
that light. After their long trip, they find
a perfect new home in a stunning bracelet
or necklace or ring, but they will carry
the legacy of their Northern roots with
them forever.
Endles s innov a t ions in cu t s and shap es ma ximize t he app e al o f e a ch diamon d . Ra dian t , p e ar,
m arquis e, b ague t te, em er ald , ros e, Sw is s , s quare — e a ch o f f er s s om e t hing sp e cial ,
an in toxic a t ing t w inkle t ha t a t t r ac t s t he eye an d c ap tures t h e h e ar t .
47
D I AV I K D I A M O N D M I N E : AWA R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N
48
20 0 9 D iav ik D iamon d Min es In c . s ele c te d on e o f C anada's top 10 0 employer s
20 0 9 D iav ik te am w ins N or t hwes t Ter r i tor ies and N or t h A m er ic an wes ter n
re gional mine res cue comp e t i t ions
20 0 9 Sp en ding w i t h lo c al comp anies sur p as s es Cdn $3 bill ion
20 0 8 J ohn T. R y an re gional s a f e t y t rophy f or s ele c t min es in wes ter n C anada
20 0 8 D iamon d pro duc t ion sur p as s es 50 mill ion c ar a t s
20 07 Mining A s s o cia t ion o f C anada re co gni t ion f or communi t y ou t re a ch ,
pro ces s e d k imb er l i te m anag em en t , an d cr isis m anag em en t p l anning
20 07 A rc t ic En erg y All ian ce En erg y E f f icien c y Aw ard
20 07 Renewe d Pro gres si ve A b or iginal Rel a t ions (PA R) pro gr am Gold level o f
a chievem en t f rom t h e C ana dian Coun cil f or A b or iginal B usin es s
20 0 6 Sur p as s e d $1 bill ion in busin es s sp en ding w i t h A b or iginal companies
20 0 6 E nv ironm en t al M anag em en t Sys tem IS O 14 0 01: 20 0 4 Cer t if ic a t ion
20 05 Con f eren ce B o ard o f C anada Aw ard f or E xcellen ce in Wor k p l ace L i ter ac y
20 05 J ohn T. R y an Re gional s a f e t y t rophy f or S ele c t Mines in Wes ter n C ana da
20 05 A s s o cia t ion o f Pro f es sional E ngin e er s , G e olo gis t s , an d G e ophysicis t s
o f t h e N or t hwes t Ter r i tor ies and Nunav u t Ci v ic Aw ard
CR EDITS
Publ ish er
Rio T into Diamonds N .V.
Pro ducer
A+A , Inc . and C G A
Cre a t i ve Dire c tor
Tomas A ncona , A+A Inc .
Gr aphic D esign
Rick L owe
Pho to gr aphy
J ames B areham
Wr iter
N at al ie E ar mann Rus s el l
Diavik Diamond Mine
Tom H o e fer
D oug A shbur y
Ram on F er r ar is
20 05 E nv ironm en t al M anag em en t Sys tem IS O 14 0 01:19 9 6 Cer t if ic a t ion
I M AGE CR EDI T S
20 05 Pro duc t Spl i t t ing Facil i t y IS O 9 0 01: 20 0 0 Cer t if ic a t ion
P ag es 4 - 5
Wes ter n C anada M ap c . 1915
Atl as of C anada
20 05 Prosp e c tor s and D evelop er s A s s o cia t ion o f C anada E 3 Env ironm en t al
E xcellen ce in E xplor a t ion Aw ard
20 05 Pro gres si ve A b or iginal Rel a t ions (PA R) pro gr am Gold level o f
a chievem en t f rom t he C anadian Council f or A b or iginal B usines s
20 0 4 J ohn T. R y an Re gional s a f e t y t rophy f or S ele c t Mines in Wes ter n C ana da
20 03 Wor ker s’ Comp ens a t ion B oard o f N W T and Nunav u t
Min e Res cue Comp e t i t ion Sur f ace Mine Res cue Aw ard
20 03 C anadian Council o f Pro f es sional Engine er s N a t ional Aw ard f or
E ngin e er ing Achievem en t
20 03 A s s o cia t ion o f Pro f es sional E ngin e er s , G e olo gis t s an d G e ophysicis t s
o f t h e N .W.T. Pro f es sional Aw ard o f M er i t
20 03 St ar t Te chnolo g y and B usines s Ver t ic al M ar ke t S olu t ions Aw ard
20 02 N unav u t Mining Company o f t he Ye ar
20 0 0 N or t h er n M anu f a c turer s’ Aw ard
Photos: C har les F ipke & Stew ar t B lus s on
Cour tes y of B H P Bil l iton
P ag es 6 -7
Il lus t r at ions: L ar r y D uke
M t . St . H elens Photo: Gar y B r aas ch /Cor bis
P ag e 8
St ak ing M ap: c . 19 92
Miner al Infor mat ion M aps , a di v. of Int ier r a Ltd.
P ag e 10
Photo: Eir a T homas & E x plor at ion Te am
Cour tes y of A b er Res ources
A -15 4 Pip e 3d M o del :
Diav ik Diam ond Mine ( D D M I )
P ag es 16 -17
S atel l ite Image: Cour tes y of D D M I
Mine Render ings: Cour tes y of D D M I
P ag e 18
Dike Il lus t r at ion: L ar r y D uke
Photo: Cour tes y of D D M I