DIAMOND PAGE — Dia Met, BHP sell Ekati rough

Partners Dia Met Minerals (DMM-T) and BHP Diamonds have entered into preliminary agreements with Denton’cho Diamonds and Arslanian Cutting Works regarding the supply of rough diamonds from the Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories.

The two local companies were selected from among several that submitted proposals. The agreements stem from an understanding between BHP and the Territorial government, whereby BHP would sell rough diamonds to qualified northern manufactures for cutting and polishing.

BHP Diamonds, a subsidiary of Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP-N), is the operator and 51% owner of the Ekati mine. Dia Met owns 29%, with the remaining 20% split between geologists Charles Fipke and Stewart Blusson.