Diamond search extends to Alberta

The search for diamonds has now expanded from Saskatchewan into Alberta, and evidence suggests the claim of 6,000 sq. km in northern Alberta belongs to Monopros, the Canadian arm of South Africa’s De Beers Consolidated Mines.

The claim has been registered with the province to Peter H. Page of Toronto. Page is treasurer of Monopros. This practice of registering the claim in a company employee’s name mirrors the procedure used by Monopros to register claims in Saskatchewan in 1987.

A $6-million deposit has been paid for the prospecting claim at the established provincial rate of $10 per hectare. The specific location of the claim spans a 180-km stretch of forest north and south of Peace River.

Monopros’ activity in Saskatchewan spurred a flurry of prospecting claim registration, eventually covering about 7,500 sq. km of that province. And to some degree, the claims have proven to be legitimate, as Monopros has said it has discovered microdiamonds in Saskatchewan. Other companies have reported larger finds.

There has been much speculation in the mining industry following record prospecting acquisitions in Alberta in 1990. Last year was a record year for acquisition of metallic mineral rights, with about 800,000 hectares acquired or applied for.

In addition to acquired rights in the Peace River area, lands were acquired in the area north of Lake Athabasca, in the Sweetgrass intrusives near Montana and in the Athabasca oil sands surface-minable area.

Other unidentified mining concerns are prospecting for gold, uranium and, to a lesser extent, base metals.

The potential for economic discoveries in the above-mentioned minerals is unknown, but the Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) believes that the astounding interest in prospecting shows promise.

ACR executive director Don Currie said it was not surprising that there would be more interest in Alberta’s metallic metals potential because successful mines exist on all sides of the province’s borders.

A report must be filed concerning the claim ascribed to Page within three years.