* 1983 — Chuck Fipke forms Dia Met Minerals.
* 1989 — Fipke finds traces of diamond indicator minerals near Lac de Gras in the Northwest Territories. He proceeds to stake claims in the area.
* 1990 — Dia Met minerals and BHP Minerals Canada enter into a joint venture to explore for diamonds in the Territories.
* 1991 — The joint venture discovers 81 small diamonds in a sample taken from the Point Lake kimberlite pipe. The significance of the find is immediately recognized in England and Australia, but not in Canada.
* 1992 — A 160-tonne sample from the Point Lake pipe yields gem-quality diamonds, a few of which are in the 1-to-3-carat range. Dia Met’s stock jumps to $13.50 from $8 in one day.
Seven of eight holes drilled by Aber and Kennecott on the Diavik property intersect kimberlite pipes.
Fancies (colored stones) found in a sample of kimberlite from the Tenby property of Aber Resources, Commonwealth Gold and SouthernEra Resources turn out to be industrial diamonds that became dislodged from a drill bit. The rally in diamond stocks takes a significant but short-lived hit.
* 1993 — BHP begins winter drilling on the Leslie, Fox and Koala kimberlites.
Kennecott begins bulk-sampling the Tli Kwi Cho pipe.
* 1994 — BHP submits a report describing the proposed development of five kimberlite pipes to the Canadian government.
Kennecott releases disappointing results from Tli Kwi Cho. Some diamond stocks never recover from the consequent damage to investor confidence in the play.
Kennecott and Aber discover the rich A-154 pipes on the Diavik property.
* 1995 — BHP submits a $14-million, 64-lb. environmental impact study to the federal government.
* 1996 — An environmental review panel recommends approval of development of the Ekati mine.
Kennecott begins a 2-year prefeasibility study.
The federal cabinet issues final approval for Ekati.
* 1997 — The BHP-Dia Met joint venture receives all permits for Ekati.
Mountain Province strikes a deal with Monopros to develop the AK/CJ claims southeast of Lac de Gras.
* 1998 — Kennecott and Aber file the Diavik project description with the federal government.
Monopros announces it will bulk-sample four kimberlite pipes on Mountain Province’s AK claims.
Ekati enters production.
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