MANAGEMENT

Last truck drives off from Victor pit

De Beers Canada's diamond operation had an 11-year mine life

The Victor mine opened in March 2008

The Victor mine opened in March 2008

The miner said last week in its confirmation of the mine's end that its recovery plant will continue to run until early May thanks to its kimberlite stockpile.

Over its life, the Victor mine truck fleet carried an estimated 900,000 truckloads with more than 88 million tonnes of rock and ore from the pit that now measures 1,000m long and 1,000m across. The operation began with benches of just five metres.

The mine also surpassed its forecast projection of six million carats during its mine life, recording over eight million carats to date. That total is due in no small part to a record 935,000 carats recovered last year, a total 58% higher than projected.

"The mining department has been a pillar for the rest of the mine over the past couple of months," operations manager Alistair Skinner said. "They have done exactly what we needed to do and they gave their all to get the last of those tonnes out safely."

The Victor mine earned multiple safety awards during its run, including the International Mine of the Year in 2009, and the 2015 and 2016 John T Ryan Awards as one of the safest mines in Canada.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions