Perth diamond conference focuses on Americas

The annual World Diamond Conference, to be held in Western Australia, is expected to stress the importance of prospects in Canada and South America.

The event, organized by Louthean Media, is slated for Nov. 22-23 at the Observation City Hotel in Perth. Prior to the conference, delegates have an opportunity to tour the vast Kimberleys, including the world’s biggest diamond mine, Argyle, and Kimberley Diamond Co.’s advancing Ellendale mine. (Operators at the remote Argyle mine are discussing the possibility of extending the operation by going undergound.)

The North American sponsor of the conference is The Northern Miner, which will cover the event in conjunction with the business publications based in Australia, South Africa and London.

Scheduled speakers include: Craig Smith, head of De Beers’ geoscience and research division in Johannesburg; Lynton Jacques, head of Geoscience Australia; Percy Marks of Percy Marks Jewellers; and representives of Uruguay Minerals Exploration, Argyle Diamonds, Bonaparte Diamonds (a marine diamond miner), and Elkedra Diamonds (Brazil).

David Duval, former west-coast editor of The Northern Miner and co-author of a book on diamonds, will give a talk on Canadian projects.

Leading diamond analyst James Picton of London, England, will give a presentation on diamond mining throughout the world.

Several Australian companies will also give presentations, including Kimberley Diamonds; Striker Resources; Namakwa Diamond, which has just begun coastal mining on South Africa’s west coast; Tawana Resources, which has a big diamond play with BHP Billiton near De Beers’ Finsch mine in South Africa; Mount Burgess Mining, which has a large prospect in Namibia; and Crown Diamonds, which is mining in the Kimberley region of South Africa.

More information on the conference can be found at www.worlddiamondconference.com