Only death, lack of cash will stop diamond hunter
Brian (Grizzly) Testo is on a mission for the big find
Last Updated: Friday, January 26, 2007 | 10:08 AM MT
CBC News
The race to find diamonds in Alberta is picking up momentum and a small exploration company hopes to strike the diamond equivalent of the Leduc gusher.
A drill rig hidden away in a secret location in the Birch Mountains of Northern Alberta has hauled up 70-million-year-old kimberlite rock.
Taken from more than 160 metres below the surface, these cores of sparkly greenish-grey volcanic rock sometimes carry diamonds.
"We can't guarantee that this is going to be the kimberlite with the grade of diamonds in it we need for a diamond mine in Alberta, but we're getting closer," said Brian Testo.
'I will find a diamond mine'
Finding diamonds has been Testo's lifelong ambition, ever since a teacher told him there were none in Alberta.
His exploration company, Grizzly Diamonds, has three million acres of land staked out in Northern Alberta.
When kimberlite from the area was drilled 10 years ago by another company they found very small diamonds, too small to open a mine so the company gave up.
Testo, whose nickname is Grizzly, said they didn't look hard enough and only death or a shortage of money will stop him from digging up his dream.
"It's not if I will find a diamond mine. I will find a diamond mine."
Three months for lab results
Testo and geologist Mike Dufresne have been stacking away the rock samples into wooden boxes ready for lab testing. It will be about three months before they know whether there are any traces of diamonds. And even if they do find them, they may not be gem quality.
While they're waiting for results, Dufresne hopes one of the half dozen other competitors doesn't beat them to the punch.
"Certainly Ashton [ Mining of Canada], who have been taken over by Stornoway Diamonds, have got a leg up on us, but we're in the hunt," he said.
In Northern Alberta, Stornoway has acquired one million acres for diamond exploration.
Still, Testo is optimistic and said he hopes to one day sport a large diamond.
"It's not easy and people will always laugh at you, but you're laughing in the end, right?" he said.
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