Severalmaz Diamond Mine

Severalmaz Diamond Mine

Severalmaz Diamond Mine in the northwest of Russia contains approximately 200 billion carats of diamonds.  ALROSA, the country's largest diamond miner is eager to increase its production. And, with a brand-new mining processing plant which opened in late November 2013.  Additionally, the company recently announced plans to increase annual production.  From the current 34.4 million carats to 41.3 million carats 2021. The new factory was built approximately 60 miles from Arkhangelsk.  A city 750 miles north of Moscow that is situated near the shores of the White Sea.  It is designed to process 3 million tons of ore a year.  This, along with an older adjacent factory that processes about 1 million tons per year.  The new facility aims to extract the two nearby open pit mines, Arkhangelskaya and Karpinskogo – 1.  The mines belong to ALROSA's subsidiary, Severalmaz.

Severalmaz Diamond Mine and North Diamond

The company name literally means "North Diamond." It has the license to develop kimberlite pipes at the Lomonosov diamond deposit in addition to the two currently operating mines.  Arkhangelskaya contains an estimated 47.9 billion thirds of identifiable deposits and Karpinskogo – 1 contains approximately 31 million according to Russian state calculations.  With only the older plant operational, Severalmaz only produced 559,000 carats in 2012 and 423,000 carats during the first nine months 2013.  With the launch of the new processing factory, the company is planning to produce 1.66 million carats in 2014 and more than 2 million carats in 2015.

Severalmaz Diamond Mine and Mining Challenges

"At the moment the company looks confidently into the future," said Sergey Gerasimov at the presser along the director of Severalmaz.  Bordering a nature preserve the Lomonosov deposit is difficult to mine.

Severalmaz Diamond Mine and ALROSA

ALROSA was even rumored to be selling the Severalmaz diamond mine along with some of his other mines during the economic collapse of 2008 – 2009.  With a change in economic activity, and apparently upbeat about the growth,  ALROSA had a change in heart and decided to invest in Severalmaz, giving it a fresh start. Developing the Lomonosov mine is now part of the company's overall strategy to expand its output. "There are several variations for developing Severalmaz depending on the diamond prices and the situation at the market, but in any case, we have good deposits that are expected the last 60 years based on current mining volumes," said Gerasimov.  He went on to say, "there is an understanding that mining needs to be developed here."

Severalmaz Diamond Mine Soil and Weather Challenges

Arkhangelskaya is approximately 7 times the mile in diameter and 360 feet deep.  Although it looks like other mines and Yakutia, the spiral road to travel to the floor of the mine is more difficult to build because of the softness of the soil.  Over 3000 tons of ore taken daily from the Arkhangelskaya and Karpinskogo-1 mines by large trucks with wheels that are almost six feet in diameter.  In November the unusually warm weather cause trouble for the 24/7 production cycle at the mine.  Soft soil meant more expensive rubble and other road construction materials required to construct roads.  On the other hand, activators are able to remove the diamond without exploding the rock away.  Similar to the procedure done at other mines.

Severalmaz Diamond Mine Ecological issues

One of the big challenges for Severalmaz diamond mine is to secure ecological safety of production.  Although the company uses chemicals in the water in its factory.  It is rotating in a closed cycle. The company is the much criticism local ecological organizations.  The concern is that the water pumped out of the mine into a special canal.  And that may affect a nearby stream that is home to various fish.  There has not been a study on whether the production at the diamond mine has any impact on the fish. Furthermore, Gerasimov explains, "the water in the canals is clean enough that we even offer it for a fish breeding facility."  He said that the company spent around $370,000 in 2012 unsecured ecological safety, which includes cleaning facilities, water tests, and observing local birds and animals.  The company paid several times over the years settle ecologically related claims. The ecological issues causing much discussion currently is the future of tailings that contain saponite a mineral that is present in the diamond soil.  This mineral is safe to humans and even used in fertilizer.  But the tailings cover a large territory.  And reworking them to remove the saponite would require additional permits and a separate processing facility.

Severalmaz Diamond Mine What's in a Diamond?

The Arkhangelskaya is a special mine because it contains 67% of near jewelry quality gems and only 18% industrial quality.  The majority of the diamonds are white in color.  With around 1% being fancy colors, with the spectrum being yellow, green, violet, and pink.  Despite only being 1% of the mine colors that in itself is a game changer. So far the largest diamond the Lomonosov mine has produced is a 106.64 carat stone.  Additionally, Gerasimov says while mentioning "by the time the mines reach 2.5 million carats the company will have its full collection." http://www.diamonds.net/Magazine/Article.aspx?ArticleID=45478&RDRIssueID=117 http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/dmnd/as/ru/p0005.htm http://www.miningmagazine.com/panorama/alrosa-launches-processing-plant Zimbabwe Diamonds