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