Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 10, 2007

IGLULIK - Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but they also put a twinkle in the eye of Matthew Manson, president of Stornoway Diamond Corp.

Eira Thomas, chief executive officer of Stornoway Diamond Corp., examines drill core samples from the AV9 discovery hole at the Aviat project on Nunavut's Melville Peninsula. - photo courtesy of Stornoway Diamond Corp. Project Facts Stornoway spent about $3.5 million on Aviat this summer camp size peaked at 22 people, including eight local hires 12 kimberlite bodies have been discovered to date 45 holes were drilled this summer with a total depth of 4,828 metres 36 holes intersected kimberlite more than 70 tonnes of kimberlite was collected for macro diamond recovery through dense media separation 1,177 till samples were collected for indicator mineral processing the Aviat project covers 2.2 million acres the project is a joint venture between Stornoway, BHP Billiton and the Hunter Exploration Group

The company recently announced the discovery of a new kimberlite pipe at its Aviat project on Nunavut's Melville Peninsula.

"We're very excited," he said.

"This discovery is significant because it's in the centre of a sheet complex. Essentially it offers us the potential for good tonnage of kimberlite, and we know these kimberlites are diamondiferous."

To mine diamonds, three conditions are needed: tonnage of kimberlite (the rock that hosts diamonds), grade of diamonds (carats per tonne of rock) and population of diamonds (high average diamond value).

It's impossible to say if and when mining could begin, but AV9 - the name of the pipe discovered in August - could bring Stornoway one step closer, he said.

"We've got this kimberlite pipe. It's at the surface. It looks very intriguing. It's a good size. It's sitting in an area in the middle of all these other kimberlites," said Manson. "It's very promising."

Stornoway made its initial discoveries in the area about five years ago, and has been exploring there every summer since. Prior to this summer's program, the company had located two small pipes and a series of kimberlite sheets (thin bodies of kimberlite over a broad area), for a total of 11 kimberlite bodies.

Aside from the discovery of the 12th kimberlite body, AV9, other work this summer centered on delineating the sheets and collecting drill samples.

Stornoway's exploration in the area is a definite boost for the local economy, said Iglulik economic development officer Carroll Macintyre.

"We're looking forward to the day when there will be a mine in Baffin," he said.

"Stornoway are going full tilt. I've got great faith in them. They're going to hit pay dirt."

So far 27 Igluik residents have been trained at the Maritime Drilling School in Nova Scotia, and several have worked with Stornoway.

Life in the North is changing to keep pace with industry, Macintyre noted.

"This will not only open up the Arctic to some degree, but both industry and tradition will work together and I think in the end everybody will be happy."