The Ekati Diamond Mine, often simply called Ekati, is Canada's first surface and underground diamond mine and is owned by Burgundy Diamond Mines. It is located 310 km (190 mi) north-east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and about 200 km (120 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, near Lac de Gras. Until 2014, Ekati was a joint venture between Dominion Diamond Mines (80%), Chuck Fipke, and Stewart Blusson, the two geologists who discovered kimberlite pipes north of Lac de Gras. Fipke and Blusson each held 10% stake in the mine, until Fipke sold his share to Dominion. In 2021, Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd. acquired the Ekati Diamond Mine with associated assets and liabilities from Dominion Diamond Mines. In July 2023, Burgundy Diamond Mines purchased full control of Arctic Canadian Diamond Company.
Ekati mine aerial view, August 2010. Four open pits on four kimberlite pipes may be seen, along with the Ekati airport.
The mining near the Lac de Gras lakes needs the construction of Frozen Dam Cores with heat pipes for creating permafrost. Here, this artificially created frozen ground prevents seepage from a containment pond for tailings.
Heat pipes keep ground frozen and inhibit water transfer into the open pit during mining activities in July 1989.
Metasequoia wood from 53 million years BP, recovered from a kimberlite pipe at Ekati Diamond Mine.
Yellowknife is the capital, largest community, and only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about 400 km (250 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River.
Image: Downtown Yellowknife 2 second version
Image: Old town and Dettah
Image: Aurora at Yellowknife, Canada 2014
Yellowknife from Back Bay. In the 1930s, the area was home to a number of prospectors.
