Miracle’ Diavik diamond puts NWT on world stage – Norj.ca

Millions of dollars aside, the true value of the Diavik Foxfire is in the story behind it.

A 187.7-carat gem-quality rough diamond was found at the Diavik diamond mine 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife in June-July and revealed to the world at Kensington Palace in London on Dec. 2 by Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. president Marc Cameron. It is the largest diamond ever produced by a Canadian mine.

“It’s really tough to compete with Kensington Palace to put it on the global stage, for me to bring visibility to the Diavik mine, importantly the North and the people who live there, and ultimately the overall diamond industry, but most importantly to bring visibility back to the Northwest Territories,” Cameron said. “Because of its size, 188 carats, and the fact that it’s gem-quality, the technical side of the stone will bring significant value, but it’s the story that will bring the real value along with it. For me, that’s a strong Northern Canadian story.”

The prestige stone stands for that story: the remote island in Lac de Gras closer to the Arctic Circle than the territorial capital, the original engineering feat of bringing an off-grid mine online on a 20 square-kilometre island within about a decade of the first stake being made, the ongoing operation of the mine in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth including the largest wind farm in the NWT, the heavy involvement of Aboriginal and community partners.

Read More: http://norj.ca/2015/12/miracle-diavik-diamond-puts-nwt-on-world-stage/