Energy, Mines, and Resources  

About YGS | Contact Staff | YGS News | Site Map | Links    

Diamond Rumours

Since the discovery of the diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes in the Northwest Territories in the early 1990s, there has been an extensive amount of capital invested in exploration and development in the search for diamonds. The focus of this investment has been predominantly in the N.W.T., however some of the exploration activity has spilled into nearly every province and territory in Canada.

Significant new discoveries continue to be made as exploration continues. In the spring of 2002, Vancouver-based Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd announced the discovery of a diamond from a sample of kimberlitic material on the Xeno Property in northern British Columbia. At the same time, Calgary-based Golconda Resources Ltd and Edmonton-based Shear Minerals Ltd jointly announced the discovery of diamond-bearing tuffaceous "maar-like" rocks from their Shulin Lake Property north of Anchorage, Alaska.

Since the Klondike gold rush there have been a number of rumors of diamond finds in the Yukon and anecdotal evidence of diamond exploration activity and discoveries of kimberlite and lamproite. Most of the diamond finds were reported by placer miners, having discovered the gems in their concentrate. Following the discovery of diamonds in the N.W.T. a few diamond exploration companies have quietly explored selected localities in the Yukon. However, during this time there has not been a documented occurrence of a diamondiferous kimberlite, lamproite or ultramafic rock in the territory. Despite this, there are discoveries being made to the south, east and west.

This report is a compilation of information on diamond discoveries and rumors of discovery in and around Yukon. The objective of the study was to assemble, in one source, all presently available information on diamond discoveries and potential diamondiferous host rock occurrences in the Yukon and surrounding regions of Alaska, N.W.T. and British Columbia. This information was derived from personal conversations with placer miners, prospectors, geologists and mining company executives, and from unpublished notes, media reports, government publications and assessment reports. The authors have not personally verified any of the diamond occurrences cited in this report.