Dominion says no contact with Washington Corp after $1.1bn takeover bid

Why don't diamonds burn up in the Earth's crust? Wired Science reports on new research revealing the secret behind the rapid ascent of diamonds as they are pushed up from deep below Earth's surface.

Western Star Auction, based in British Columbia, will be auctioning the world's largest cut emerald on Jan. 28.

The Argyle diamond mine, long a dominant force in the global diamond market saw production drop 14% year on year during the last quarter of 2011.

Some community members are concerned about plans to expand a diamond exploration project on South Baffin Island. Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. owns and operates the Chidliak project near Iqaluit. The company wants approval from regulators to bring in more workers, more equipment and set more trails to support the next phase of its exploration work.

BHP Billiton could receive less than $500 million for its Ekati diamond mine in Canada's Northwest Territories.

Could Indian diamonds be in Rio Tinto's future? According to Daily News and Analysis, the Australian mega-miner has received approvals-in-principle from the Ministry of Mines to begin diamond mining operations in the state of Madhya Pradesh:

John Zigarlick Jr., who spearheaded construction of a pioneering winter mining road in the North, died Dec. 16 in Edmonton. He was 74.

2011 will go down as the year when the wind fell out of the sails of economic recovery and serious storm clouds gathered on the horizon.

Mirny Mine, the largest open pit diamond mine in world, is located in Mirny, Eastern Siberia, Russia