• Project Overview
• Development
• Joint Venture Agreement

De Beers Canada is Mountain Province’s Joint Venture partner and the operator of the Gahcho Kué project. Gahcho Kué is currently the subject of an independent definitive feasibility study, which is being conducted by JDS Mining. The project is also in the permitting phase.
Click here to view 2005 Project Description
Click here to view 2003 Technical Study

Click on links below to view more details

To read a plain language description from De Beers on their plans for developing the Gahcho Kué project. Click here.

Recent Developments

2003 Technical Study

The 2003 study, completed in June of that year, used the 2000 Desktop Study (updated in 2002) as a starting point to investigate development of the Gahcho Kué project by open pit mining with a base case of initial production at the end of 2010 and ramp-up to full production by mid-2012. This study was designed to provide data to support an application for a Class A water License and Land Use Permit. All design data that would affect the Class A License application, such as water management, waste disposal, mining development and waste storage were developed at a level of design approaching a Class II Feasibility. The balance of the study was performed at a Class I level. As a substantial portion of the resource remained in the inferred resource category, the Technical Study could not be published as an economic (feasibility) study. Nonetheless, the study confirmed that there was sufficient confidence in the economic prospects of the project to warrant proceeding to the permitting and bulk sampling phases.

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Application for Construction and Operating Permits

In November 2005, the Joint Venture submitted applications to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for permits to construct and operate a mine at Gahcho Kué. This application was a significant milestone for the Gahcho Kué Joint Venture. It moved the project from the exploration to development phase of the mining process. The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) completed an environmental assessment in 2006 and referred the application to an environmental review, which is continuing. The final Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be filed by mid-2010. The environmental review is expected to be completed in 2011.

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Advanced Exploration Program

Advanced exploration, including bulk samples, of the 5034, Hearne and Tuzo kimberlites was completed in 2008. A final independent 43-101 resources statement was published in April 2009.

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Independent Diamond Valuation

In mid 2008, Mountain Province appointed WWW International Diamond Consultants to provide an independent valuation of the Gahcho Kué diamonds and projection of future diamond prices. The results of the independent valuation were released in October 2008. The results are contained in the table below.

+1.5MM bottom cut-off for stone size

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