History The first discovery of kimberlite (a potentially diamond-bearing rock) in Saskatchewan was made in 1988, in the Sturgeon Lake area, about 30 km northwest of Prince Albert. Kimberlites were discovered in the Fort à la Corne area in 1989. With greater than 70 magnetically defined kimberlite bodies identified, the Fort à la Corne Kimberlite Province ranks as one of the largest in the world. Up to the end of the 1995 exploration program only 44 of the estimated 71 kimberlite bodies in the Fort à la Corne area have been drill tested. Description of Mineral Diamond is a crystalline form of carbon. Natural diamond is the hardest known mineral. The common crystalline form of diamond is an octahedron but also occurs as cubes and irregular masses. The largest diamond recovered to date weighs 0.985 carats. Individual bulk sample grades up to 23.4 carats per 100 tonnes have been reported. Location Diamonds are formed at great depths (150 - 200 km) within the earth's mantle. They are transported to surface by kimberlite or lamproite volcanic magmas. They are also found in placer deposits, where diamonds have been concentrated in river gravels and beach sands, as they were liberated by erosion of diamond bearing kimberlite and lamproite rocks. Most diamonds are produced in Australia, Zaire, Botswana, Russia and South Africa. Canada should soon be a major diamond producer, as several economic kimberlites have been discovered in an area of the North West Territories. The entire province is considered prospective ground for diamond exploration. Most of the diamond exploration in Saskatchewan is occurring in an area that extends across the province between latitudes 53° and 56° which includes: the Fort à la Corne, Pasquia Hills, Molanosa Arch, Candle Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Smoothstone Lake, and Wapawekka Lake areas. Further exploration has discovered more than 70 additional kimberlite bodies in the Fort a la Corne, Candle Lake and Whiteswan Lake areas, northeast of Prince Albert.This area hosts one of the largest concentrations of kimberlites in the world. Mining Diamonds Diamonds are recovered from the diamond bearing kimberlites, the lamproite or the gravels produced by the erosion of these rocks. The host rocks are crushed, then the diamonds are separated form the lighter minerals by gravimetric methods such as rotating pans. This produces a heavy mineral concentrate. One of two things is done with the concentrate. The concentrate is blended with water and passed over a grease table to catch the diamonds. The diamonds will adhere to the grease whereas most of the remaining minerals do not. The concentrate is passed in a dry state through an x-ray sorting machine which identifies the diamonds by the x-ray induced fluorescence. Producers of Diamonds At present there are no diamond mines in Saskatchewan. Well over 2 million hectares have been staked for diamond exploration in the province. Over 55 of the kimberlite bodies tested so far contain diamonds and over 25 of these have yielded diamonds larger than 1 mm in size. So far, these kimberlite bodies are not economical to mine. Saskatchewan Energy and Mines through the Saskatchewan Geological Survey is taking an active part in diamond studies and is providing technical assistance to the exploration industry. Uses for Diamonds Diamond usage can be divided into two categories; gem diamonds and industrial diamonds. Diamond Uses Gem Diamonds are prized for their brilliance - the ability to reflect light (bounce light rays back to the eye) fire - the ability to refract or bend light rays and disperse light into the colors of the light spectrum scintillation - the ability to "twinkle" when the diamond is moved The cut of the diamond (a natural prism) determines the ability of the diamond to exhibit these characteristics. Industrial Diamond is the most important industrial abrasive; hard enough to cut superhard materials with the precision, speed and economy that industry requires.Many industrial diamonds are synthetically produced, but at high costs. Uses: lapidary for grinding or polishing gems, optics and glass drill bits surgical equipment saws for cutting resistant materials shaping very fine wires or to dress turning, boring and milling tools Economic Impact for Saskatchewan Considerable testing and investigations remain to be conducted before it will be known whether any of these kimberlites will develop into an economic diamond mine in Saskatchewan.