Dominion Diamond Corp., has filed for a new land use permit and water licence to develop the Jay-Cardinal Project that could extend the Ekati Mine’s life by 10 to 20 years.
The application to the Wek’éezhii Land and Water Board is the first step in the regulatory approval process to develop kimberlite pipes the company describes as “the largest diamondiferous resource in North America.”
Drilling to date has established 78 million carats of indicated resource and 13 million carats of inferred resource. Dominion is now considering an open pit reserve to support development of the project. Ekati is currently scheduled for closure by 2019.
“The scale and robust nature of the Jay-Cardinal Project has the potential to secure the future not just of the Ekati Diamond Mine, but of the Northwest Territories diamond industry,” said Robert Gannicott, Dominion’s chair and chief executive officer (CEO).
According to the company, environmental assessment approval is expected to be granted before the end of 2015. Construction would then commence, leading to the planned release of diamond-bearing kimberlite to the process plant by 2019.
The Jay and Cardinal kimberlite pipes are located in Lac du Sauvage in the southeastern portion of the Ekati mine property, about 25 km from the main facilities.
Mining the pipes will require two freshwater diversions around an area within Lac du Sauvage. The water level would be drawn down to a level exposing the two kimberlite pipes for open pit mining; underground mining is also planned.
