De Beers Canada Corporation

Snap Lake Project, Nunavut, Canada

The Snap Lake Diamond Mine is built on the shore of Snap Lake, 220 km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Snap Lake is Canada’s 4th diamond mine and Canada's 1st completely underground diamond mine.  The kimberlite was discovered in 1997 by Winspear Resources. De Beers Canada bought the project in the fall of 2000 and received permits to build and operate the mine in May 2004. By December 31, 2008 $1.235 billion dollars had been spent on construction and operation of the mine. The mine commenced commercial production on January 16, 2008 and the official mine opening took place on July 25, 2008.

Nuna's Role 

At De Beers Canada’s Snap Lake property, DENESOLINE / NUNA Joint Venture’s activities included:

  • Construction and maintenance of a 30 km winter road site access off of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road.

  • Construction of facilities pads, fuel tank farm, 6 km all-weather site roads and all other earthworks.

  • Construction of a 3,500' airstrip. Extending the airstrip to 5,000'.

  • Construction of 2 lined processed kimberlite containment dams including support and logistics.

  • Site support services including winter road, site access and ice pad maintenance.

Nisha & Gahcho Kué Exploration Projects, Nunavut, Canada

De Beers Canada operates a number of exploration projects in the Slave Geological Region around and south of the Lupin Mine.  DENESOLINE / NUNA Joint Venture’s activities included:

  • Pioneering of a Nodwell route into the Nisha site.

  • Transportation of fuel from Yellowknife to site via the winter road using Nodwell all-terrain units.

  • Route selection and mobilization of equipment to the Nisha site.

  • Preparation of a temporary airstrip for delivery of fuel and re-supply.

  • Co-ordination of the fuel purchase and transportation from Yellowknife and the air-lift into Lupin.

  • Route selection, construction of 125 km of winter road to Gahcho Kué area, mobilization of construction equipment, drill/blast equipment, transport of bulk sample to Yellowknife, transport of fuel to site, construction of dam, provision of fully staffed camp facilities.

  • Construction of a kimberlite containment facility.