• Digital Edition
  • Press Releases
  • Buyers’ Guide
  • Costmine
  • Careers
  • Maps
  • Profile
  • Sign out
  • Regions
    • Canada
    • United States
    • Australia, NZ & South Pacific
    • Mexico and Central America
    • North America
  • Commodities
    • Gold
    • Copper
    • Diamonds
    • Silver
    • Zinc and Lead
    • Nickel
    • Uranium
    • Iron Ore
  • Commentary
    • Commentary
    • Editorial
  • ESG
    • Indigenous Issues
    • Sustainability
    • Environment
  • Suppliers & Equipment
    • Machinery and Equipment
    • Machinery and Equipment Maintenance
    • Technology & innovation
  • Events
    • Canadian Mining Symposium | October 12 + 13, 2023 | London, UK
    • Superior Glove Webinar | August 15, 2023
    • Upcoming Events
    • Submit an Event
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
  • Advertise

EXPLORATION: Province’s own Treasure Hunt

Canadian Mining Journal Staff | January 1, 2002 | 12:00 am

Ontario has been the target of focused diamond exploration for nearly four decades. Interest dates back to the 19th century when diamonds were found in glacial deposits in southern Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. The source of the diamonds was suspected to be Ontario, most likely northern Ontario.

During the late 1940s, a government geologist identified a thin intersection of kimberlite in old diamond drill core near Kirkland Lake. Exploration for the bedrock source did not develop in earnest until the 1960s when kimberlite indicator minerals were found in esker sediments. This led to the discovery of a kimberlite dike in the area and, later in the 1980s, the first kimberlite pipes were found in the province through the use of indicator minerals and geophysical invetigations.

Much of the current diamond exploration in Ontario is focused in the James Bay-Hudson Bay Lowlands, Wawa, Cobalt to Kirkland Lake, and The northern extent of the Ontario-Manitoba border.

Work conducted by the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) has highlighted diamond potential in several areas of Ontario, including Wawa, Kapuskasing, River Valley, Temagami, Marathon, Kirkland Lake and northwest Ontario. Recently the OGS has focused on the Kapuskasing-Wawa, Marathon, River Valley and Temagami to North Bay areas. This work supplements previous diamond studies by the OGS in the Kirkland Lake area. OGS staff members are involved in a province-wide evaluation of kimberlite.

Under Operation Treasure Hunt, the OGS is overseeing kimberlite indicator mineral studies for the zone stretching from Wawa to southwest of Moosonee, from Sault Ste. Marie to Espanola, and in portions of the James Bay Lowland. In collaboration with the Geological Survey of Canada and Industry Canada, the OGS conducted a geophysical airborne survey over the area between Chapleau and Kapuskasing that is inferred to have diamond potential.

—Mary Rocca and Peter Cashin, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development & Mines


Related Posts

Researchers find missing clue to finding pink diamonds

September 20, 2023

Researchers find missing clue to finding pink diamonds

Lucara unearths 692 carat diamond at Karowe mine in Botswana

August 22, 2023

Lucara unearths 692 carat diamond at Karowe mine in Botswana

Lucara Diamond to replace CEO Eira Thomas

August 17, 2023

Lucara Diamond to replace CEO Eira Thomas

Lucara reports fourth diamond recovery north of 1,000 carats

August 9, 2023

Lucara reports fourth diamond recovery north of 1,000 carats

Queen’s University: Tectonic breakup generates diamonds

July 27, 2023

Queen’s University: Tectonic breakup generates diamonds

Comments

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe
Digital Edition

Editions

  • Subscribe
  • Digital Editions

About

  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Notice

  • TheNorthernMiner
  • Mining.com
  • Careermine
  • Edumine

Canadian Mining Journal provides information on new Canadian mining and exploration trends, technologies, mining operations, corporate developments and industry events.

Funded by the Government of Canada
© 2023 Glacier Media Group, All Rights Reserved