Canada May be New Spot for Finding Yellow Diamonds in The Rough

April 26th, 2015 by Noam Flint

Part of what makes a diamond so alluring is its rarity. When you factor in that yellow diamonds are even scarcer than the classic white, it puts them at a higher demand and greater value.

The Ellendale Diamond Mine, located in the West Kimberly Region of Western Australia, has been the main source of the world’s yellow diamonds for decades. Since its discovery in the 1970s, the mine has provided jewel collectors and diamond lovers with the unique gem. However, just as all good things must come to an end, the mine has recently been closed for care and maintenance, making the future of the yellow diamond now uncertain.

The status of Ellendale

When Asian and Australian tectonic plates naturally collided millions of years ago, they started to form the ideal environment for some of the world’s most beautiful diamonds. It’s estimated that the mine is home to more than 264,700 carats of diamonds. The yellow gems have been discovered in about 60 percent of the mine’s lamproite pipes, and the long-term plan for the mine is to discover more of these pipes to maintain the gem’s production. However, there’s a limit on all tangible things, and that may be in sight for diamonds in this region.

Scouring the globe for yellow diamonds

One of the most popular naturally colored diamonds, the yellow stone’s recent scarcity could be devastating. That’s why certain corporations have crafted initiatives, such as the Qilalugaq Diamond Project in Nunavut, Canada, to find a new source of the gem. In a sample taken from the arctic region, about eight diamonds larger than 1 carat were found and ranked on the yellow spectrum. This is major news for all who appreciate the stone.

Canada is a relatively new region for diamond mining. While Australia and Africa are two of the most common spots for the rare gems, the northern region in Canada is quickly proving itself to be an abundant source of diamonds.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the valuable gems were discovered in the region. Since then, many have sought out diamonds from the area, thanks to the region’s beautiful products and strict environmental laws that require gems be procured responsibly and carefully. Canada has become the third-largest producer of diamonds in the world, and collectors can expect to see many more gems coming from the area as time goes on.

Rough Yellow Diamond image credit: Crater of Diamonds State Park