The Udachnaya pipe (Russian: Уда́чная, IPA: [ʊˈdat͡ɕnəɪ̯ə]; lit. 'Lucky') is a diamond deposit in the Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field in Sakha Republic, Russia.[1] It is an open-pit mine,[2] and is located just outside the Arctic Circle at 66°26′N 112°19′E / 66.433°N 112.317°E.[3]
 The Udachnaya pipe | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Udachnaya pipe Location in Sakha Republic, Russia  Udachnaya pipe Udachnaya pipe (Russia) | |
| Location | Mirninsky District |
| Federal subject | Sakha Republic |
| Country | Russia |
| Coordinates | 66°26′03″N 112°19′03″E / 66.43417°N 112.31750°E |
| Production | |
| Products | diamonds |
| Type | open-pit then underground |
| History | |
| Discovered | 1955 |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Owner | |
| Company | ALROSA |
History
editUdachnaya was discovered on 15 June 1955, just two days after the discovery of the diamond pipe Mir by Soviet geologist Vladimir Shchukin and his team.[4] It is about 640 metres (2,100 ft) deep, making it the third deepest open-pit mine in the world (after Bingham Canyon Mine and Chuquicamata).[4]
The nearby settlement of Udachny is named for the deposit.
As of 2010[update], Udachnaya pipe is controlled by Russian diamond company Alrosa, which planned to halt open-pit mining in favor of underground mining in 2010.[2]
The mine has estimated reserves of 225.8 million carats (45.16 t) of diamonds and an annual production capacity of 10.4 million carats (2.08 t).[5]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Barthelmy, David. "Amakinite Mineral Data". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ a b "Meeting of ALROSA Supervisory Board". Alrosa. 2004-05-24. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ "Udachny town, Yakutia, established by Udachnaya Pipe in 1968". Moi gorod (in Russian). Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ a b М. Владимиров; Р.М. Лобацкая; Н.В.Воронцова; В.М.Усачев (2006). МИРОВОЙ РЫНОК ЮВЕЛИРНЫХ КАМНЕЙ (in Russian). Irkutsk: IrGTU. p. 107. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ "Diamond deposits in the Sakha Republic". rough-polished.com. 25 June 2012.
External links
edit
- Satellite photo of the Udachnaya pipe
- Alexeev, Sergey V; Alexander V. Drozdov; Tatyana I. Drozdova; Ludmila P. Alexeeva (2006-03-16). "The First Experience of Saline Drainage Waters Disposal from the Udachnaya Pipe Quarry into Permaforest". Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2006-12-31.