The outlook for both the rough and polished diamond markets enhances the potential of the Leadbetter diamond deposit in Ontario, Dianor Resources announced at a recent diamond industry conference in London.

Dianor CEO John Ryder said that the company had enjoyed great success in exploring and developing the deposit and expected bulk sampling to confirm the diamond exploration results.

The Leadbetter deposit – which has yielded rare purple diamonds – is not a kimberlite pipe and its size exceeds that of the average kimberlite pipe. Models of the deposit suggest that Leadbetter contains approximately 566 million tons of diamondiferous rock.

Given the "tight supply-demand fundamentals" of the diamond market, Ryder said, Leadbetter appeared to be able to supply part of the anticipated rough diamond supply deficit.