Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/01) - A local Yellowknifer was the lucky winner of a 1.1-carat, emerald-cut diamond from the Ekati diamond mine.

Lucky Yellowknifer Morag Howell was the winner of a 1.1-carat, emerald-cut diamond from the Ekati diamond mine during last week's Geoscience Forum. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

"Morag (Howell) is the envy of everyone," said BHP Billiton spokesperson Denise Burlingame. The gem's value is between $8,000 and $10,000, she said.

"Jim Excell said to me he wanted to donate a diamond for the Geoscience Forum and have a similar program to what they have every year at the Prospectors and Developers Conference," she said, referring to a mining conference held in Ontario every year.

Delegates at this year's mining forum carried a "passport" around to designated booths at the related trade fair.

"And it really helped get people out to the trade show component this year," said Burlingame.

Delegates were encouraged to stay until the last day because they had to be present to have a chance to win, she said.

There were 174 entries in the diamond draw.

This year's Geoscience Forum was described as "The best ever," by chamber of mines general manager Mike Vaydik.

Over 600 people participated in the annual conference.

"And at the same time it was going on we had a little real excitement going on at the Arctic Coast with a bit of a diamond-staking rush going on," said Vaydik, referring to escalating interest in Coronation Gulf prospects.