De Beers
Mining
De Beers Canada has two established mines, The Snap Lake Mine and Victor Mine. Both mines were officially opened in July 2008.
Snap Lake Mine, De Beers' first diamond mine outside of Africa, is 220 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. Snap Lake is Canada's first completely underground diamond mine.
Victor Mine is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. Victor Mine is an open pit mine and Ontario’s first diamond mine.
Snap Lake Mine
Location: 63° 34’ 30” latitude and 110° 52’ 00” longitude, about 220 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife
Mine Area: ‹500 hectares
Recoverable grade: 1.2 carats per tonne
Annual tonne processing capacity: 1.1 million tonnes
Annual carat production capacity: 1.4 million carats
Snap Lake Mine Overview
The Snap Lake Mine, De Beers’ first mine outside of Africa, is unique in Canada. Built on the shore of Snap Lake, 220 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, the mine is Canada’s first completely underground diamond mine. The Snap Lake ore body is a 2.5 metre thick dyke that dips an average of 12-15° from the northwest shore down under the lake. It is unlike most diamond-bearing kimberlite deposits which are known as ‘pipes’ due to their conical or carrot-like shape.
The kimberlite was discovered in 1997 by Winspear Resources. De Beers Canada bought the project in the fall of 2000 and received permits to build and operate the mine in May 2004.
Following pre-development design and engineering work, construction started with the winter road in 2005. Because of Snap Lake’s remote location, building and operating the mine requires careful planning. Travel to the site is only possible by airplane for all but six to eight weeks of the year, when a seasonal ice road is used to re-supply the mine with equipment, parts and other materials needed to operate the mine.
By December 31, 2011 $1.98 billion had been spent on construction and operation of the mine. Of that total, $1.29 billion has been spent with NWT-based contractors and suppliers, including $756 million with Aboriginal businesses or Joint Ventures.
The mine commenced commercial production on January 16, 2008 and the Official Mine Opening took place on July 25, 2008.
De Beers is committed to sustainable development in local communities The Snap Lake Mine has signed four Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA) for the Snap Lake Mine including:
• Yellowknives Dene First Nation (November 2005);
• Tlicho Government (March 2006);
• North Slave Métis Alliance (August 2006); and,
• Lutsel K’e and Kache Dene First Nation (April 2007).
Victor Mine
Location: 52° 49’ 15” latitude, 83° 53’ 00” longitude, approximately 90 kilometres west of the First Nation community of Attawapiskat in northeastern Ontario
Mine Area: Victor kimberlite has a surface area of 15 hectares
Annual tonne processing capacity: 2.7 million tonnes
Annual carat production capacity: 600,000 carats
Victor Mine Overview
The Victor Mine is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. It is Ontario’s first diamond mine and the second in Canada for De Beers.
The Victor Mine is an open-pit mine and is one of 18 kimberlite pipes discovered on the property, 16 of which are diamondiferous.
Construction of the Victor Mine began in February 2006 after receiving all necessary approvals from provincial and federal governments.
Approximately $1 billion was spent on construction of the mine, with approximately C$167 million spent with Aboriginal businesses or joint venture partners. It is also estimated that De Beers will contribute C$6.7 billion cumulative GDP impact for all of Ontario during the life of the Victor Mine.
The Victor Mine reached commercial production in 2008 (six months ahead of schedule) and the Official Mine Opening took place in July 2008.
In October 2009, the Victor Mine was voted “Mine of the Year” by the readers of the international trade publication Mining Magazine.
De Beers is committed to sustainable development in local communities The Victor Mine has signed four community agreements for the Victor Mine including:
• an IBA with the Attawapiskat First Nation (November 2005),
• a Working Relationship Agreement with the Taykwa Tagamou Nation (May 2005),
• an IBA with Moose Cree First Nation (September 2007) and
• an IBA with Kashechewan and Fort Albany First Nation (February 2009)
Source: https://www.canada.debeersgroup.com/Mining/
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Heavy Equipment Operator (Multiple Positions)
Reporting to the Mine Supervisor, these positions will be responsible for competently operating heavy mobile equipment including but not limited to haul trucks, dozers, graders, loaders, excavators and/or shovels to safely maximize the mine production of ore and waste in the mine pit.
Mine Hydrogeologist
Installation, commissioning, operation & maintenance of centrifugal and submersible pump fleet.
Site Services Superintendent
The Gahcho Kué Project is an exciting new diamond mine under construction in the Northwest Territo-ries, Canada.