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Mine in northern Canada

High grade concentrate processing has begun at the Jericho diamond mine in Nunavut, northern Canada, the mine's owner announced. Diamond company Shear has recovered about 3500 carats of diamonds from over 350 metric tonnes of material in only 10 days of processing, and now intends to process these stockpiles over the course of the next ten months, Market Watch reported.

 

A valuator appointed by the government of Canada will evaluate the diamonds at the end of the current month, Shear said. Subsequently, most of the diamonds will be shipped to the facilities of Belgian diamond marketing company Tache Company N.V., from where they will then be sold to end markets.

 

Shear chief executive officer Julie Lassonde expressed gratification over the positive results, all the more significant since the factory had been inactive for three years from 2008 to 2011, presenting a series of serious challenges.

 

In total, Shear controls seven other diamond projects in northern Canada, in addition to the Jericho project.