Canadian retailer Arctic Blue has bought a controlling interest in the WO Diamond Project, in Northwest Territories, where explorations are at an advanced stage.
Arctic Blue Diamonds Ltd, a private diamond company that specializes in the rare blue fluorescent diamonds, says it operations at the mine could involve the use underwater remote mining (URM) technology.
It said had acquired an 89.7 per cent interest in the WO Diamond Project, primarily from Peregrine Diamonds, a subsidiary of De Beers Canada, for an undisclosed sum.
The”WO” in the WO Diamond Project stands for “West of”, as in west of the Ekati diamond mine (owned by Australia-based Burgundy Diamond Mines).
The WO Project, currently on care and maintenance, encompasses eight mining leases covering 5,815 hectares located about 11km off the seasonal ice road, 23km from the Diavik diamond mine and 53km from the Ekati diamond mine.
It hosts DO27, one of the largest diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes in Canada, with an indicated mineral resource of 18.2m carats. It has a surface area of about 9 hectares and lies below a shallow lake.
Based on independent rough diamond price indices, the average prices for DO27 diamonds are projected at $90 – $100 per carat.
“The extremely soft nature of the DO27 ore also opens the potential for the deployment of Underwater Remote Mining (URM) technology,” said Arctic Blue executive chair Patrick Evans.
He said it offered exceptionally low capital and operating cost opportunities, and was the most sustainable form of mining, with minimal impact on the environment.
Source: IDEX
Fluorescence
Fluorescence in Diamonds: What It Is and How It Affects Your Diamond
Fluorescence in diamonds refers to the glow that a diamond emits when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. When a diamond has fluorescence, it can show a blueish glow (or, in rare cases, other colours) under UV light. This phenomenon is due to the presence of trace elements, typically boron or nitrogen, in the diamond’s crystal structure.
How Fluorescence Works in Diamonds
Ultraviolet Light Exposure:
Fluorescence occurs when a diamond is exposed to UV light—such as sunlight, certain types of lamps, or black lights—which excites the molecules in the diamond and causes them to emit visible light in a blue hue.
Intensity of Fluorescence:
The level of fluorescence can range from none to very strong. This is graded as follows:
None: No fluorescence under UV light.
Faint: The diamond shows a very slight fluorescence.
Medium: Noticeable fluorescence, but not very strong.
Strong: The diamond emits a noticeable glow when exposed to UV light.
Very Strong: The diamond gives off an intense glow in UV light.
Color of Fluorescence:
