Australian firm joins hunt for Great Lakes diamonds hunt

A part owner of the world’s largest diamond producer, the Argyle mine in Western Australia, has acquired control of a diamond prospect on the Michigan-Wisconsin border.

Melbourne-based Ashton Mining, which has a 40% interest in Argyle, has agreed to take a 51% interest in the Great Lakes project from Australian-owned Crystal Exploration. Dow Chemical, which conducted the initial exploration on the prospect, has retained an undisclosed interest. “We have committed ourselves to spend more than 30% of our diamond exploration budget on the Great Lakes project over the next three years, which indicates how highly we regard it,” said Ashton Chief Executive John Robinson in a prepared release. “Historically, some 60 gem quality diamonds have been found in the region.”

Robinson says recent exploration has revealed a cluster of

microdiamond-bearing kimberlite pipes on the prospect. He says the project is at the stage where a number of these pipes need to be tested for their commercial potential. “This is where Ashton’s experience and technical capabilities in diamond exploration and project evaluation will prove crucial.”

Ashton’s geologists were instrumental in the discovery and exploration of the Argyle diamond pipe.

Kimberlite is the common host for diamonds around the world. Known diamondiferous kimberlites occur pipe-like structures within or near cratonic areas like the Canadian Shield.

The Great Lakes project lies west of Lake Michigan on the edge of the Canadian Shield.