John Ryder – Paleoplacers – Are Archean/Proterozoic diamondiferous placers/paleoplacers potentially new sources of diamond supply to meet the looming diamond shortage?

John Ryder, with Dianor Resources Inc. will give a presentation on

Paleoplacers – Are Archean/Proterozoic diamondiferous placers/paleoplacers potentially new sources of diamond supply to meet the looming diamond shortage?

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When: Tuesday October 23, 2012, 4–5 pm.

Where: Meeting at the OBA Conference Centre, Conference Room C&D, Suite 200, 20 Toronto Street in Toronto.

Admission Cost: free for TGDG Members and students. New memberships: New annual TGDG memberships for the 2012-2013 season will be available at the meeting for $25, the same low, low price as last year.

ABSTRACT

Kimberlites and Lamproites are the main host rock for economic diamonds, and currently 80% to 85% of the world’s diamonds are mined annually from these igneous intrusive rocks with the balance recovered from present-day alluvial sedimentary deposits.   The long-term supply of diamonds is forecast to be unable to meet the growing demand from emerging markets, specifically China and India.  Many current diamond operations are ageing.  There are few new mines in development, and when they are compared to existing hard rock mines, their average size is only 58 million tonnes vs. 136 million tonnes whilst their diamond grade is 40.1 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) vs. 62.2 cpht.  Recent discoveries in Africa and Canada of large-tonnage, diamond-bearing Archean–Proterozoic paleoplacers, derived from the weathering and erosion of ancient kimberlites, are the new diamond source rocks with the potential to produce significant diamond supply.  Paleoplacers are underexplored and understudied, but recent events in Zimbabwe and Cameroon are expected to change this situation. 

BIO

A professional geoscientist with thirty-nine years experience in global exploration, discovery, and development, the latter half in diamond exploration. Instrumental in the discovery of a world-class phosphate deposit in Saudi Arabia and a lead and zinc deposit in Ireland. Skilled and knowledgeable about diamonds and first to discover bedrock diamonds in California and in James Bay, Quebec. Acquired Leadbetter Diamond Deposit, an Archean paleoplacer near Wawa, Ontario for Dianor Resources Inc., a public company, and developed the project to the bulk sampling stage. Qualified Person under NI 43-101 in diamonds, phosphate, and precious and base metals.