Canada diamond mines map showing major mining areas (Ekati, Diavik, Gahcho Kué, Renard, Victor)

Historic Diamond Fields & Mines in Canada

Northwest Territories — Lac de Gras (Ekati & Diavik)

Canada’s modern diamond era began in the 1990s after indicator-mineral sleuthing led by Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson revealed kimberlite pipes near Lac de Gras. Ekati, Canada’s first commercial diamond mine, opened in 1998; Diavik followed in 2003 on an island in Lac de Gras, later transitioning from open pit to underground. These operations established the Northwest Territories as a world-class kimberlite field. Sources: GIA overview of Canadian diamonds; Natural Resources Canada (Diavik); Wikipedia summaries for Ekati/Diavik.

Northwest Territories — Gahcho Kué (Kennady Lake)

Jointly owned by De Beers and Mountain Province, Gahcho Kué officially opened in 2016 over multiple kimberlite pipes beneath Kennady Lake. It quickly became a key producer alongside Diavik and Ekati, reinforcing the Slave Craton’s importance to Canadian production. Sources: De Beers/Mountain Province histories; Wikipedia “Gahcho Kué”.



Northwest Territories — Snap Lake (underground)

Snap Lake, De Beers’ first Canadian mine and one of the country’s first fully underground diamond mines, entered commercial production in 2008. Operations were suspended in 2015 and the site moved into care-and-maintenance thereafter. Source: Wikipedia “Snap Lake Diamond Mine”.

Nunavut — Jericho (Kitikmeot)

Jericho, Nunavut’s first diamond mine, operated from 2006 to 2008. Though short-lived, it marked the expansion of Canadian diamond mining beyond the NWT into the Arctic territory to the east. Source: Wikipedia “Jericho Diamond Mine”.

Québec — Renard (Otish Mountains)

Québec’s first diamond mine, Renard, achieved commercial production in late 2016–2017. Operations later faced market headwinds; the site entered creditor protection and intermittent care-and-maintenance beginning in 2019 and again in 2023. Renard nevertheless proved the potential of the Otish kimberlite field. Sources: Stornoway updates; Deloitte/CCAA filings; Wikipedia “Renard diamond mine”.

Unlike Brazil’s largely historic alluvial output, Canada’s production is overwhelmingly from primary kimberlite pipes discovered in the 1990s. The country’s mines are known for strict environmental standards and extensive partnerships with Indigenous communities. Source: GIA overview of Canadian diamonds; Natural Resources Canada notes.

Canada’s Most Historic & Largest Diamonds

“The Dancing Sun” (from the Diavik 552-ct rough)

Polished: 204.36 ct Fancy Intense Yellow (VVS2), the largest polished diamond mined in North America to date. Rough: 552.74 ct yellow diamond recovered at Diavik in Oct. 2018. Notes: The 204.36 ct stone and six smaller diamonds from the same rough were offered by Christie’s in 2021. Sources: Christie’s lot essay; National Jeweler; Forbes coverage of the 552-ct rough.

Diavik “Foxfire”

Rough: 187.7 ct, recovered in 2015 at Diavik; exhibited at the Smithsonian (2016–2017) as the largest known uncut, gem-quality diamond found in North America at the time. Later cut into two pear-shape diamonds (37.87 ct and 36.80 ct) sold at Christie’s. Sources: Smithsonian press/news; Christie’s lot essay; trade press.

Diavik 552-ct Yellow (rough)

Rough: 552.74 ct Canadamark™ yellow diamond discovered at Diavik in 2018—the largest gem-quality rough ever recovered in North America. Sources: Forbes; National Jeweler.



“Ekati Spirit”

Rough: 78 ct stone from the Ekati mine, sold in Antwerp in 2011; one of the most publicized large Canadian rough diamonds of its era. Sources: MINING.com; Langerman/press notes.

Ekati 71.26-ct Fancy Vivid Yellow (rough)

Rough: 71.26 ct octahedral vivid yellow recovered in 2022 at Ekati—reported as Canada’s largest fancy vivid yellow diamond; later fashioned into important Tiffany & Co. stones. Sources: Rapaport; Burgundy Diamonds/Tiffany releases.

Summary

Canada vaulted into the top tier of diamond producers in the late 1990s with the opening of Ekati and Diavik on the Slave Craton. Subsequent mines (Snap Lake, Jericho, Gahcho Kué, Renard) broadened the map. While several sites now face wind-downs or pauses, Canada’s legacy includes landmark stones—from the 187.7 ct Foxfire to the 552 ct Diavik yellow that yielded the 204.36 ct Dancing Sun—and a reputation for traceable, responsibly produced diamonds. Primary sources: GIA “Diamonds in Canada” overview; Natural Resources Canada; major auction/industry reports cited above.

For information on famous diamonds, visit our Diamond Page.

Datasets: U.S. Geological Survey, Major Mineral Deposits of the World, Open-File Report 2005-1294. Data portal