DIAMONDS: Dominion receives water licence for Jay project

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES – Dominion Diamond Corp. of Yellowknife, NWT, has received approval of the Type A water licence for the Ekati diamond mine including the Jay project near Lac de Gras. [caption id="attachment_1003719100" align="alignleft" width="300"] Hauling kimberlite at the Ekati project near Lac de Gras, NWT. (Credit: Dominion Diamond Corp.)[/caption] The Ekati mine, Canada’s first diamond mine, began production in 1998. The current mine plan is based on six open pits and two underground mines working the Misery Main, Pigeon, Sable, Lynx and Jay kimberlite pipes. Jay is the largest undeveloped pipe at Ekati, and its construction was approved in July 2016. The large size and high grades will extend the life of the Ekati project by 10 years. The initial capital cost will be US$183 million. Within that amount are equipment costs of US$86 million, including the purchase of eight haul trucks, one hydraulic shovel, four front-end loaders, three production drills, two dozers, and other support equipment. The Jay pipe contains estimated 78.6 million carats of diamonds. They will be recovered from 2023 to 2034. Visit www.DDcorp.ca and enjoy the professional photo gallery of the Ekati project.