Our Industry
The north is one of the largest untapped mining areas in the world. Since the first mine went into operation in the early 1930s, mining has been the economic backbone of the NWT & Nunavut providing significant training, employment and business opportunities and contributing infrastructure to each territory.
A strong history
We have a strong history of mining in our two northern territories, and each decade since commercial mining began in the 1930s has seen new mines opening.
Currently (2022) there are 8 mines operating in the NWT and Nunavut. In the NWT, we have the Ekati, Diavik, and Gahcho Kue diamond mines and the newly started Nechalacho rare earth element mine, and in Nunavut we have the Meliadine, Meadowbank, and Hope Bay gold mines and the Mary River iron mine.
Collectively, these mines are making mining the largest private sector contributors to each territory’s economy.
1930s
Eldorado (uranium), Con, Negus, Rycon (gold)
1940s
Giant, Thompson-Lundmark (gold)
1950s
Rankin (nickel), Discovery (gold)
1960s
Pine Point (zinc-lead), Cantung (tungsten)
1970s
Nanisivik (zinc)
1980s
Polaris (zinc-lead), Lupin, Cullaton Lake (gold)
1990s
Colomac (gold), Ekati (diamonds)
2000s
Diavik, Snap Lake, Jericho (diamonds)
2010s
Meliadine (gold), Meadowbank (gold), Mary River (iron), Hope Bay (gold), Gahcho Kué (diamonds)
2020s
Nechalacho (REEs)
Exploration
Advanced Exploration Projects – potential mines in the NWT and Nunavut
Mines
Mines Actively Producing in the NWT and Nunavut
Socio-Economic & Community Commitments
Socio-Economic & Community Commitments
Best Practices
Explore industry-leading practices in Arctic efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and world-class mine rescue response.
25 years of Diamonds
November 2016 marked the 25th Anniversary of the announcement by Diamet Minerals in November 1991 that they had discovered some microdiamonds in the vicinity of Lac De Gras, NWT.
