A 500 km seasonal ice road is rebuilt every year by Robinson s Trucking for Ekati and for Echo Bay Mines Lupin operation. The only other transport is by air from Yellowknife.
All kimberlite pipes are overlain by small lakes.
The proved recoverable reserves are 51,330,000 ct of diamonds, plus probable recoverable stones totalling 18,978,000 ct. MINE PLAN Initial open pit mining will be extended underground where necessary. The project is expected to have a life of 25 years or beyond. Open-pit mining started on the Panda pipe and Koala, Misery, Fox and Sable will be developed sequentially. Mining equipment includes Driltech D90K2 blasthole drills, a Demag H655SP diesel hydraulic shovel, Caterpillar D10R dozers, a Cat 994 loader, a Cat 5130 hydraulic backhoe, Cat 992 loaders and other support equipment.