SA国际影视传媒� By Jill Westerman

Northern News Services

SA国际影视传媒楴ever stop exploringSA国际影视传媒� could be Gary VivianSA国际影视传媒檚 mantra.

But instead of the jagged terrain of a mountain range or a verdant tropical jungle, it is what lies beneath the Arctic tundra that holds a fascination for the Northern geoscientist.

Vivian, the chairman of Aurora Geosciences in Yellowknife, searches for diamonds SA国际影视传媒� before the digging even begins.

SA国际影视传媒淲e use a tool box of geophysical airborne data, ground geophysical data, MAG and electrical surveys,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the complex exploration process that determines whether swaths of land have the potential to yield highly sought-after minerals that lie beneath the earthSA国际影视传媒檚 surface.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur job is to find more resources,SA国际影视传媒� Vivian said of the continual search and discovery process.

Using advanced exploration techniques, Vivian said he and his team have provided geological and geophysical services to all three of the operational diamond mines in the Northwest Territories.

What lies beneath

After the initial surveys are conducted on a potential area of land, depending on the data accumulated, a camp is then set up for VivianSA国际影视传媒檚 exploration team to prospect, sample and conduct further ground geophysics.

The goal is to find an area that has the best possibility of hosting the underground kimberlite that contains the diamonds.

Kimberlite deposits can be vast and far reaching. Ekati and Diavik mines, for example, have huge land packages that were originally staked, Vivian said.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you are an explorer for diamonds, you donSA国际影视传媒檛 acquire small pieces of land SA国际影视传媒� youSA国际影视传媒檝e got to acquire large pieces of land because the dispersions from the kimberlite creates indicator till trains that can be 20 to 30 kilometers in length or even longer,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪ome people say some of the indicator minerals from the NWT have come from as far away as Saskatchewan. There are big till train deposits from kimberlite that can go many tens or hundreds of kilometers.SA国际影视传媒�

But once mining begins, eventually the end cycle of the diamond mine approaches, and therefore, Vivian says exploration should never stop to ensure continuation of the mining process. 0

The search is on

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e been finding kimberlite in South Africa for 150 years. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not likely that (after) 20 years of finding kimberlite in the NWT that you are done,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here is more to be found, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just not easy,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the process. SA国际影视传媒淵ou should always be exploring.

SA国际影视传媒淔or me, the interest is how difficult they are to find and when, through the geophysical process, you actually find a new kimberlite and a new resource. That, to me, is the fun part SA国际影视传媒� the hunt,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that everything in his toolbox is necessary to just find a kimberlite to drill.

Vivian said across the industry, he was involved with exploration and geophysics discoveries at both Diavik and Gahcho Kue mines since 1991 SA国际影视传媒� day one SA国际影视传媒� and has been involved in a significant number of kimberlite discoveries in the NWT.

Small find, big value

In terms of the coveted diamonds contained within the kimberlite, Vivian said it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 take many gems within it to make the rock viable to mine.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is because of the value of the diamonds that the rock is so economic,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you have one carat per tonne and the diamonds have a huge value and it could be mined, but there are a lot of pipes in the world that have one to 1.5 carats per tonne, but then the value is not there so they canSA国际影视传媒檛 mine it.SA国际影视传媒�

But while Vivian has found success in his geophysical exploration work, he also has found perhaps a greater discovery SA国际影视传媒� the unparalleled passion for his lifelong work.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 pay me to work in a mine, but you could pay me zero to be the guy to actually look for it, because that is what I love doing. My passion is looking for it and creating value and success for the companies I work for. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 really it.SA国际影视传媒�