Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field, Diamond exploration site in northern Alberta, Canada.
The Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field is a diamond exploration area in northern Alberta's boreal forest with 41 kimberlite pipes scattered across remote terrain. About two-thirds of these pipes contain diamonds that formed through ancient volcanic activity.
Geologists discovered the kimberlite field during surveys in the 1990s while mapping the northern Alberta region. The pipes themselves formed between 60 and 88 million years ago through volcanic eruptions deep beneath the surface.
The field lies within traditional territories where Indigenous communities maintain connections to the land through various practices and knowledge systems.
The location sits about 400 kilometers north of Edmonton and requires specialized vehicles to navigate difficult terrain through forest. Visitors need proper permits and should plan ahead due to the remote location and challenging access conditions.
One particular pipe called K252 yields about 55 carats of diamonds per hundred tonnes of rock, making it among the most productive in the field. This high concentration of diamonds makes it particularly valuable for exploration.
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