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Diavik Mine A Diamond Mines, Northwest Territories, Canada story

Mining  / 
Water
  1. Earthshots
  2. Diamond Mines, Northwest Territories, Canada
  3. Diavik Mine
Description

Production in the Diavik Mine began in January 2003. By 2013, Diavik had produced 84 million carats.

In this time series, you will notice something different about the mine pits of Diavik. The diamond ore is under the lake, so the pits were built in the lake. To protect the water of Lac de Gras, a dike was built before digging the pit.

Construction is a challenge in this remote location with a short construction season. The dikes had to be completed when the lake was not frozen—only about a 4-month period. The first dike was made watertight in 2002 and was pumped dry 3 months later. Silty water was cleaned before being sent back to the lake. A smaller dike was completed in 2006. The dikes allow safe mining in the open pits.

In September 2012, Diavik transitioned from an open-pit mine to an underground mine. More engineering and construction feats were needed for this change. Ventilation systems, pump stations, 12 miles of tunnels, vertical tunnels for ventilation and water removal, and other rooms make the underground mining possible. Diavik is expected to operate through 2023.

Diavik has a private airstrip of its own. The 1,600-meter (1-mile) long runway can accommodate Boeing 737s. It’s visible in the images as the straight line north of the mining operations.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Aug. 17, 1997, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 17, 1997, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 1, 2000, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 1, 2000, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 22, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 22, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

June 23, 2006, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

June 23, 2006, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 13, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 13, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 13, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 44/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 13, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 44/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Sentinel-2A — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

July 29, 2019, Sentinel-2A — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aug. 17, 1997, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
Aug. 1, 2000, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
July 22, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
June 23, 2006, Landsat 5 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
Aug. 13, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
July 13, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 44/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
July 29, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 45/15) — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
July 29, 2019, Sentinel-2A — Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada

Diamond Mines, Northwest Territories, Canada Additional Imagery & Stories

Ekati Mine
Ekati Mine

Ekati is Canada’s first diamond mine. Diamond ore bodies are called kimberlite pipes. These carrot-shaped pipes are the roots of ancient small volcano...

Read More
Ice Road
Ice Road

The world’s longest ice road connects Yellowknife to three diamond mines: Ekati, Diavik, and Snap Lake. Of the 475 kilometers (300 miles) of ice road,...

Read More
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