Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/646629
Eira Thomas with B2Gold Corp., which currently operates major exploration, develop- ment and mining projects in Nicaragua, the Philippines, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Mali and Colombia. Hugo Dummett Diamond Award Excellence in Diamond Exploration and Development Recipient: Eira Thomas Eira Thomas is the recipient of the Hugo Dummett Diamond Award. Thomas has been an integral player in the Canadian diamond industry for over 20 years, starting with her well-documented involvement in the discovery and evalua- tion of the Diavik kimberlites in 1994. Her involvement and leadership within the Canadian diamond sector extends well beyond that transformative dis- covery. Thomas has made a number of significant contributions toward dia- mond exploration, discovery and mine development throughout her career – not the least of which is the elevated profile of Canadian diamonds and the diamond mining industry. Through her various industry associ- ations that include Aber Resources Ltd. (now Dominion Diamond Corporation), Navigator Exploration Corp., Stornoway Diamond Corporation, Lucara Diamond Corporation and North Arrow Minerals Inc., Thomas has been involved with the evaluation and development of kim- berlites in the Northwest Territories, Nu nav ut, A lberta, Sask atchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Greenland and Botswana. This work has resulted in the discovery of four new kimberlite fields (three in Nunavut and one in Saskatchewan), and numerous additional kimberlites in at least six other areas in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario and West Greenland. Thomas has truly seen the sector from all angles; she started working in the field as an exploration geologist, and then moved on to manage exploration programs as vice-president of explora- tion at Aber Resources (now Dominion Diamond Corporation) and co-found two diamond companies, Stornoway and Lucara. She has actively pursued, championed and financed early grass- roots exploration, kimberlite discov- ery and evaluation and diamond mine development in Canada and abroad. The ultimate objective for mineral explora- tion is the successful development of a mine, and Thomas has been involved in the evaluation and development of at least three diamond mines including Diavik (Northwest Territories), Renard (Quebec) and Karowe (Botswana).