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The Victor Project is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat.
In June 2005, the Attawapiskat First Nation voted in favour (85.5%) of ratifying the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA). In August 2005, De Beers received approval by the Federal Minister of the Environment for the Victor Project Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment (EA). Construction of the mine began in February 2006, once the necessary permits were granted. The Victor Project will employ more than 1,100 people during construction, while 375 permanent positions will be created during mining and processing operations.
The Victor mine will be the first diamond mine in Ontario and the second in Canada for De Beers.
Click on one of the topics below if you would like to see a short video filmed at the Victor site in April 2001:
| PROJECT FACTS |
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Victor is one of 18 kimberlite pipes discovered on the property, 16 of which are diamondiferous. |
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The Victor kimberlite has a surface area of 15 hectares and consists of two pipes that coalesce at the surface: Victor Main and Victor Southwest. |
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The geology of the Victor kimberlite is complex, comprising of pyroclastic crater facies and hypabyssal facies and has a highly variable diamond grade. |
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The mine will be open-pit with an expected life of 12 years and a total project life of 17 years. |
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The site facilities will include an open-pit mine, processing plant, workshops, warehouse, offices, fuel storage, pit dewatering system, accommodation complex and airstrip. Support services will include potable water, sewage treatment and waste management. |
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Mining will utilize standard open-pit mine equipment comprised of 100 tonne trucks, large front-end loaders, dozers and the necessary support equipment. |
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The processing plant will treat 2.5 million tonnes of kimberlite per year (about 700 tonnes per day) with the final product is then sorted and assessed for value. |
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The mine will be supported by winter road access for the transportation of equipment and supplies. Personnel will be transported to and from the site by air with pick-up stops at the coastal communities and Timmins. |
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Core and bulk sampling programs on other kimberlites will continue. Results of the evaluation of these programs will help determine if the mine life may be extended. |
| PROJECT STATISTICS |
Impact area |
5,000 hectares |
| Indicated resource |
24.0 million tonnes |
| Inferred resource |
4.1 million tonnes |
Total tonnes processed |
27.4 million tonnes |
Recovered grade above a bottom cutt off
of 1.5mm
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0.23 carats per tonne |
| Average diamond value |
US$419* per carat |
Annual production rate |
2.7 million tonnes per year
600,000 carats per year
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Employees |
375 during production |
Investment to date |
CDN $305 million |
Capital cost |
CDN $997 million |
Operating costs |
CDN $41 per tonne |
* Diamond prices subject to market related fluctuations; July 2006. Weighted average of
diamond value in tonnes processed.
| SITE ACCESS |
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Via Air:
Year-round by an all-weather airstrip. |
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Via Land: A seasonal winter road as weather permits, originally developed in 2005. |
| PROPOSED FACILITIES FOR MINE OPERATIONS |
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A permanent gravel airstrip and seasonal winter road. |
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Plant and processing facility. |
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Accommodation complex at the mine site with 264 single rooms, recreational facilities, a library and internet access. |
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