De Beers funds first-ever diamond research laboratory in Canada

Edmonton, AB September 15, 2003 A diamond research laboratory said to be the first of its kind in Canada was officially opened at the University of Alberta in Edmonton today by Richard Molyneux, president and CEO of De Beers Canada.

De Beers has partnered with the university by providing C$100,000 to equip the laboratory with state-of-the-art diamond research equipment previously unavailable in the country.

“Canada is well on track to becoming the third largest producer of diamonds by value in the world and this industry will make a significant contribution to the national wealth of Canada," said Mr Molyneux at the opening of the De Beers Laboratory for Diamond Research. "The development of a leading-edge diamond research capability in Canada is therefore both logical and significant. This laboratory will make a valuable contribution to our scientific understanding and support the Canadian diamond industry.”

Dr Thomas Stachel will head up the laboratory in the faculty of science at the University of Alberta where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Diamond Research. He is one of only a handful of scientists worldwide leading research in this field.

“This research will expand scientific understanding of diamond formation and will provide valuable qualitative and quantitative data, which the diamond industry can employ to locate diamond deposits and predict their quality,” says Dr Stachel.