Attawapiskat kimberlite field

The Attawapiskat kimberlite field is a field of kimberlite pipes located astride the Attawapiskat River in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, in Northern Ontario, Canada. It is thought to have formed about 180 million years ago in the Jurassic period when the North American Plate moved westward over a centre of upwelling magma called the New England hotspot, also referred to as the Great Meteor hotspot.[1]

Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers open pit Victor Diamond Mine has been in operation mining two pipes in the field at 52°49′14″N 83°53′00″W / 52.82056°N 83.88333°W / 52.82056; -83.88333, about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the community of Attawapiskat.[2][3] The mine was expected to produce 600,000 carats (120 kg) of diamonds a year.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Davis, WJ; Miller, AR (2001). "A Late Triassic Rb-Sr phlogopite isochron age for a kimberlite dyke from the Rankin Inlet area, Nunavut, Current Research 2001-F3" (PDF). Radiogenic age and isotopic studies - Report 14. Geological Survey of Canada. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  2. ^ Ontario Mining Association (2008-08-01). "Ontario's First Diamond Mine Officially Opened by De Beers Near Attawapiskat". Republic of Mining. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  3. ^ "Toporama - Topographic Maps - Sheet 43B". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  4. ^ "Victor Mine: Factsheet". De Beers Canada. 2009-04-17. Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-08-13.

52°49′30″N 83°53′30″W / 52.82500°N 83.89167°W / 52.82500; -83.89167


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