Natural Resources Canada

Kimberlites are rock formation where diamonds can be found. Diamonds form at a depth greater than 150 kilometres within the earth. After their formation, diamonds are carried to the surface of the earth by strong volcanic activity. This mixture of magma, transported rock and diamonds forms pipes...

In the 1960s, several mining companies started systematically exploring for diamonds in Canada. Today, in addition to the Ekati mine, other diamond projects could reach production within few years. This map shows the location of the main Canadian diamond exploration areas to the year 1997.

Minerals associated with diamond source rocks found in glacial sediments indicate presence of a kimberlite. To a certain extent it also gives an evaluation of the potential presence of diamonds. Regional ice advance and retreat pattern knowledge, combined with geophysical analysis, help to find...

Uranium is a common element throughout the Earth’s crust, soils, and oceans. Uranium resources are naturally occurring deposits that may have a sufficient concentration of uranium to support mining operations. Canada has about 8% of the world’s unmined uranium resources, but accounts for some 25%...

This map depicts the 69 metal mines that operated for any period during 2003. There were no active metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Nunavut, Alberta, Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia for this year.

This map depicts the 30 base-metal mines that operated for any period during 2003. Base-metal mines produce primarily copper, nickel, zinc, lead, cobalt, molybdenum and magnesium. There were no active base-metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Nunavut, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or...

This map depicts the 6 ferrous-metal mines that operated for any period during 2003. Ferrous-metal mines produce iron ore, niobium and tantalum, all used in the production of steel and steel alloys. Only Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Manitoba have ferrous-metal mines. The locations of 16...

This map depicts the 33 precious-metal mines that operated for any period during 2003. Precious-metal mines produce gold, silver, palladium and uranium. There were no active precious-metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Nunavut, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia for this...

This map depicts 62 metal-production facilities that operated for any period during 2003. There are no facilities shown in the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia.

This map depicts the 66 metal mines that operated for any period during 2004. There were no active metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Alberta, Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia for this year.

This map depicts the 28 base-metal mines that operated for any period during 2004. Base-metal mines produce primarily copper, nickel, zinc, lead, cobalt, molybdenum and magnesium. There were no active base-metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Prince Edward...

This map depicts the 6 ferrous-metal mines that operated for any period during 2004. Ferrous-metal mines produce iron ore, niobium and tantalum, all used in the production of steel and steel alloys. Only Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Manitoba have ferrous-metal mines. The locations of 15...

This map depicts the 32 precious-metal mines that operated for any period during 2004. Precious-metal mines produce gold, silver, palladium and uranium. There were no active precious-metal mines in the Yukon Territory, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia for this year. The...

This map depicts 59 metal-production facilities that operated for any period during 2004. There are no facilities shown in the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia.

There are 185 mining-reliant communities, of which 88 have a reliance of 50% or greater, and 97 have a reliance of 30 to 49%. The economy of these communities depends either on local mining activity or on metal-processing plants.

In 1999 there are two operational mines in Nunavut: the Polaris and Nanisivik mines. The Polaris zinc-lead mine located on Little Cornwallis Island, is the most northerly mine in the world. The principal elements it extracts are zinc, lead and calcium. The Nanisivik zinc-lead-silver mine is...

Nunavut’s mineral potential is substantial, which is why large and small companies are investing millions of dollars for prospecting and exploration in the volcanic and metamorphic rock of the Canadian Shield, particularly for gold, and more recently diamonds. This map locates the main...