Udachnaya Pipe, The World Third Deepest Open-Pit Diamond Mine in Russia

The Udachnaya pipe is also called lucky pipe actually a diamond deposit in the Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field in Sakha Republic, Russia. The Udachnaya is one of main diamond suppliers in Russia and about 80% and almost half of the world’s proved 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. 

In 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 than 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 rich in diamonds and can be discovered, as well as buried high-quality diamond placer deposits. Moreover, it is also planned to enhance the diamond exploration works by 3.5 per cent 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. Source: Charismatic Planet