The splendor of the Northern Lights is supposed to be mimicked by the sparkle of Canadian diamond rings. This is a romantic notion because it is the diamond's cut, not its national identity, that causes it to shine like a Northern star. Canadian diamonds are still among the whitest in the world. They are also of exceedingly high quality, thanks to tight government standards in the Northwest Territories. Because of Canada's reputation for trustworthiness, Canadian diamond rings compete effectively in the gemstone jewelry industry.
Canadian diamonds are incredibly unique in that they have only been available for around thirty years. Prior to their discovery in Canada's Arctic north in 1985, the best diamonds were obtained from South Africa. This monopoly was broken when two Canadian geologists, Charles Fipke and Stuart Blusson, discovered a massive vein of Kimberlite near Lac De Gras in the Yukon. This was thrilling discovery since Kimberlite is the optimum stone-growing substrate for high-quality diamonds. Soon later, in 1991, another Kimberlite diamond source was discovered in Nunavit, Northwest Territories.
The Canadian government funds the extraction of these diamonds, and the jewels produced are likewise verified by the government authority. This implies that unlike many diamonds available today, the Canadian diamond can be traced back to the diamond from which it was mined. Canadian diamonds are also engraved with a serial number and a small microscopic image of a polar bear or maple leaf. All diamonds mined in this responsible country are backed by the Canadian Triple Guarantee, which guarantees the quality and purity of the stone.
Canada has climbed to become one of the world's top three producers of gemstone-quality diamonds in the last thirty years. Even though South Africa generates the most diamonds, many of them are used for industrial and technological purposes. Canada is currently the third largest producer of diamonds for jewelry, after only Botswana and Russia.
Two of Canada's major diamond mines are located quite close to and just north of Yellowknife in the North-West Territories. In this area, two mines are in operation: Diavik and Ekati. In Nunavut, the third large mine, known as Jericho-3, began mining operations in 2005. Snap Lake-4, the fourth mine in Northern Ontario (and relatively far south of the other three diamond mines), is set to begin production in 2007.
The geologists who discovered the Kimberlite vein, Charles Fipke, and Stewart Blusson, control Canada's first diamond mine, the Ekati Mine, along with the Australian mining company BHP Billton. This trove is likely to be produced throughout the next two decades. It currently supplies 4% of the world's fine diamonds.
The Diavik mine is held in partnership between Rio Tinto PLC of the United Kingdom and Aber Diamond Corp of Toronto, Ontario. It has been manufactured since 2003. It produces diamonds weighing 8,000,000 carats. Every year, this mine sells $100,000,000 in gemstones. This mine is predicted to stay in operation for the next two decades and now supplies 5% of the world's gemstone-quality diamonds.
The Jericho-3 mine is located near the north end of Contwoyto Lake in West Kitikmeot, Nunavut, Canada. The Tahera Diamond Corporation operates it and has been exploring the potential of operating the mine year-round in Nunavit's severe climate. It has only been in operation for a few months, but it is expected to be a plentiful source of gleaming diamonds for at least the next eight years.
When DeBeers decides to get a slice of a diamond deposit, you know it's valuable. The massive South African mining corporation owns and operates the Snap Lake mine, which is set to open next year. This mine is located beneath a lake in Northern Ontario's James Bay Lowlands. Attawapiskat, a beach settlement, is the closest community. This mine, which requires significant technological innovation to recover Canadian diamonds from beneath tons of water, appears to have a large reserve of jewels that will last at least eight years.
One of the nice things about this mine is that it has contributed significantly to the prosperity of Canada's indigenous people, Indians, and Eskimos. The mines offer high-paying work, with an average annual salary of $63,000. These are long-term positions currently held by indigenous peoples such as the Dene First Nation. When you purchase Canadian diamonds, you are also helping to support an indigenous culture.
The relatively recent discovery of these diamond mines has sparked a frenzy of excitement comparable to the Yukon Gold Rush. According to Statistics Canada, prospecting corporations from all over the world had staked claims to more than 70 million acres in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut by February 2004. The most dramatic increase in diamond prospecting has occurred in Nunavut, in Northern Ontario, where the number of prospecting permits increased from 190 in 2003 to 1,518 in 2004.
Canadian Diamonds has built a solid reputation for quality and integrity throughout the years. Because they can be traced, you can be certain that they are not being sold to fuel terrorism in Angola or other African countries. Canadian diamonds are of exceptional quality, with their most valuable feature being their bright white color. This is especially true for diamonds from the Ekati mines. Their radiance and clarity make them ideal for a diamond engagement ring.
Between 1998 and 2002, 13.8 million carats of diamonds worth roughly $2.8 billion were mined in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. This means that Canadian mines create $1.5 million in diamonds every day, which is the equivalent of a 1.5-kilogram bag of jewels. Overall, Canada now produces 15% of the world's diamonds, and this trend will continue as long as the weather cooperates and these mines are allowed to run efficiently year-round.
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