Iqaluit (Feb 10/03) - Beat out the majors for a permit to explore a few million acres of Nunavut for diamonds?

That is exactly what Hunter Exploration's John Robins had in mind.

Hunter Explorations's John Robins. - photo courtesy Wilcox Group

Hunter is part of the Aviat Project Joint Venture on Melville Peninsula.

Aviat's first challenge before starting its hunt for diamonds last summer was to secure the necessary mineral rights.

Robins flew to Iqaluit in late 2001 to apply for the needed permits, an inexpensive alternative to staking.

"Staking can cost from 90 cents to $1.50 per acre," said Robins. "Permitting costs 10 cents an acre.

"It's a tremendous incentive for smaller companies willing to roll the dice."

The downside is that mineral permits are only available once a year. And the rule is 'first come, first served.'

That meant Hunter had to be first in line at the DIAND office in Iqaluit on the first business day in December.

Hunter and fellow geologist Adam Vary of Yellowknife got to Iqaluit three days early to ensure success.

Only to find someone else had arrived first.

"The DIAND office opened Monday morning. On Saturday, we saw what we thought were BHP or De Beers agents parked outside the office. And they obviously weren't leaving."

On Sunday afternoon, a second vehicle arrived and parked outside the DIAND office.

Robins and Vary decided to get sneaky.

"At 2 Adam drove up behind both cars with his lights on bright. They turned around to see who was coming, and while their attention was diverted I ran up the wheelchair ramp and stood right in front of the DIAND office door.

"Technically, that is where the line is supposed to start."

When the office opened seven hours later, Robins was first in line.

The return for the pair's improvised cloak and dagger operation was impressive: permitted rights to 1.3 million acres on Melville Peninsula.

The ground later yielded the Aviat joint venture's first diamond find.

BHP subsquently staked one million acres nearby. De Beers has permitted eight million acres across the peninsula on Baffin Island.

Robins and the Aviat group recently acquired permitting rights to another 5.5 million acres on Melville Peninsula.

To get them, the firm hired agents to stand outside the DIAND office in Iqaluit late last year.

They began lining up five days early.

"They were a little cold at times, but we got the permits," laughed Robins.