Udachnaya Pipe – World’s Third Deepest Open-Pit Diamond Mine

The Udachnaya pipe is also called the lucky pipe actually a diamond deposit in the Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field in Sakha Republic, Russia. The Udachnaya is one of the main diamond suppliers in Russia and about 80% and almost half of the world’s proven diamond resources are located on the territory of the Republic of Sakha Yakutia. This is an open-pit mine is located just outside the Arctic circle at 66°26′N 112°19′E.

On June 15, 1955, The Udachnaya pipe was discovered right after two days after the discovery of another diamond pipe Mir by Soviet geologist Vladimir Shchukin and his team. The open-pit mine is over 1,970 feet deep, making it the third deepest open-pit mine in the world after Bingham Canyon Mine and Chuquicamata. Moreover, the nearby settlement of Udachny is named for the deposit. Currently, Udachnaya pipe is well controlled by Russian diamond company Alrosa, which planned to halt open-pit mining in favor of underground mining in 2010.

The Udachnaya pipe mine has estimated more reserves of 225.8 million carats of diamonds and an annual production capacity of 10.4 million carats. The development of the rough diamond geological exploration will focus on localizing, exploration, evaluation, and prospecting of potential diamond-bearing areas in the Yakutsk diamondiferous province.

At present, the localizing commercial diamond deposits are connected with the Sredne-Markhinsky and Muno-Tungsky diamond-bearing areas. Where the new kimberlite bodies are rich in diamonds and can be discovered. Also, as well as buried high-quality diamond placer deposits. Moreover, it is also planned to enhance the diamond exploration works by 3.5 percent per year of the value of the diamonds mined in the Republic. In order to replenish the utilized reserves and discover new promising kimberlite and alluvial deposits. 

Read More – Great Dune of Pilat – Magical Moving Desert in France

Source: Wikipedia