mine location 300km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories,
Canada
project capital cost $1.3 billion
construction start-up January 2001
project mine start-up first half 2003
estimated mineable reserves 25.6 million tonnes (diluted)
average estimated reserve grade 4.0 carats/tonne (diluted)
mine life 20 years
average diamond value $63 USD per carat (2000 valuation)
ore production 1.5 million tonnes annually
annual diamond project peaks at over 6 million carats
total employment 400 (+/- 50)
direct annual wages approximately $30 million
northern workforce 250–300 at start-up
Nuna Logistics’ Role
Nuna Logistics was involved as a construction
contractor since Diavik’s early exploration days. Nuna Logistics cleared
the land and built the exploration camps, constructed the first small
airstrip (to land Twin Otters) and the winter ice strip (to land larger
planes), built the drill pads, and assisted with the original sampling of
the lake bottom.
Lac de Gras Contructors, a partnership between Nuna Logistics Limited and
Peter Kiewit and Sons Ltd., contracted to construct the cut-off dike to
permit mining from the lake floor.
Specifically
Earthworks and Runways
provided earth moving for the preparation of the exploration site and
placement of facilities
prepared the decline tunnel entrance
developed site earthworks including a permanent 1,600m airstrip able to
handle large jets and a commercial Hercules cargo aircraft, on-site haul
roads built of rock quarried near the mine’s island-based
infrastructure, concrete foundations plant site, and kimberlite
containment facilities (Lac de Gras Constructors, a partnership of Nuna
Logistics Limited and Peter Kiewit Sons Ltd.)
Ice Roads / Ice Pads
constructed annual winter road and provided road maintenance
established drill pads on the Lac de Gras ice for the annual drill
program (to ensure bearing capacity of the ice, it was necessary to
determine the ice thickness using Nuna Logistics’ subsurface radar
system)
Transportation
transported 3,000 tonne bulk sample from the A154 site to pilot plant in
Yellowknife
transported inbound supplies to support the drilling and bulk sample
program
transported Jet B fuel drums from Yellowknife to site for helicopter and
aircraft support
Support and Logistics
provided drill support for a diversified drilling program
provided constructability advise to the Diavik feasibility study
prepared by Nishi-Nhon/SNC Lavalin Limited
Dike Construction
constructed North America’s first dike designed as a cut-off using
crushed rock placed straight in the water; the dike’s 3km silt
curtain, located 200m off-shore, is the longest ever constructed, and
the quality control regulations and specifications are among the
strictest ever encountered
