Our People

We have assembled an excellent, highly experienced team of prospecting, exploration, and structural geologists, petrologists and mineralogists who received their education (not lower than postgraduate, M.Sc. level) in the best Russian universities and academies, followed by successful experience in prospecting for diamond deposits (including world class discoveries) in northern European Russia and Siberia, and who have expanded their expertise in the search for diamonds across Canada, South America and Africa.

All of our geologists have extensive experience in prospecting in extreme climates (from the high Arctic to the tropics) and in remote territories, have skills in the organization of multi-operational programs, and fluently speak several languages (English, Russian and Spanish or Portuguese).

Dr. Felix KAMINSKY is a well known, leading specialist in the geology, petrology and mineralogy of diamond deposits. He graduated and obtained, in 1959, a M.Sc. degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, specialising in Geological Mapping and Prospecting for Mineral Deposits (Thesis: ‘Young volcanism of the Central Caucasus’). In 1966 he obtained a M.Sc. degree in Geophysics from the Moscow Oil Institute (Thesis: ‘Geophysical studies for kimberlite prospecting in the western part of Aldan Shield, Siberia’); in 1969 he obtained a Ph.D. degree in Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry from the Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Ore Deposits (IGEM), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Thesis: ‘Petrology of pipes and dykes of the Ingili Region in the Aldan Shield, Siberia)’; and in 1983 he obtained a D.Sc. degree from the Institute of Mineral Resources, Moscow (Thesis: ‘Non-kimberlitic diamond deposits’). Since 1959, Dr. Kaminsky has specialized in prospecting for and evaluation of diamond deposits in different areas of Siberia and northern European Russia. In the Aldan Shield, he discovered several kimberlitic pipes, and in the Arkhangelsk area he discovered the first diamonds which led to the discovery of the world-class Archangelsk diamond deposits, for which he was decorated with the Order of Honour (1989). In the 1970-80s, Dr. Kaminsky discovered 11 new diamond localities in different areas of Russia and Mongolia, as well as bauxites in Southern Siberia and gold in the Russian Far East. As a research scientist, Dr. Kaminsky performed detailed studies of kimberlites and other diamond-bearing rocks worldwide.  He has established the zonal distribution of different facies of kimberlite and related rocks on ancient platforms, discovered the diamondiferous nature of non-kimberlitic igneous (alkali-basaltic and ultramafic) rocks, studied in detail polycrystalline diamonds (carbonado, balas, bort) and created a theory for the low-pressure (crustal) origin of carbonado, studied carbon isotope composition of diamonds and established wide d ¹³C dispersion in diamond, created a technique for diamond fingerprinting from different diamond deposits, and created a system of forecasting and prospecting for primary diamond deposits based upon geological, geophysical and morphostructural models of kimberlite/lamproite fields and zones. For the latter achievement Dr. Kaminsky was awarded the Gold Medal of State Prize (Russia, 1991).

In 1994 Dr. Kaminsky moved to Canada, where he established the KM Diamond Exploration Ltd. Company, which actively prospects for diamond deposits worldwide. Since then he and his colleagues have discovered many new kimberlites, including those in Northern Ontario, Botswana and Venezuela; diamondiferous minette dykes in Nunavut; a diamondiferous province in Northern Africa (Algeria); evaluated diamond deposits in Venezuela and Brazil; performed extensive prognostication, prospecting and analytical works in Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Algeria, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Australia, and some other countries. In diamonds from two areas of Brazil and Venezuela he discovered lower-mantle inclusions, some of which are now characterised a new diamond indicator minerals.

Dr. Kaminsky has published 9 monographs and more than 200 peer-reviewed articles on the geology, petrology and mineralogy of diamond deposits in a range of international peer-reviewed journals and publications. He has presented papers at countless international conferences and congresses. For his international achievements Dr. Kaminsky has been awarded the Cross ‘For the Merits’, medals and plaques from: the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (2000); the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, Canada (2003); the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK (1992), and the American Biographical Institute, USA (1997, 2005).

Dr. Sergei SABLUKOV graduated and obtained, in 1978, a M.Sc. degree from the Moscow Geological-Prospecting Institute (now Moscow Geological Academy) (Thesis: ‘Prospecting for uranium deposits in Transbaicalia’), specializing in the geological survey, research and prospecting of mineral deposits. In 1995 he obtained a Ph.D. degree from the Geological Research Institute of Prospecting (Moscow) (Thesis: ‘Volcanism of the Zimny Bereg area and petrological criteria of diamondiferous kimberlites’). Since the 1980s, Dr. Sablukov has worked as field geologist in prospecting and evaluation for diamond deposits in northern and central European Russia (Arkhangelsk, Timan, Urals, Karelia and Kola Peninsula), Siberia (Nakyn area), and Canada (Northern Ontario, Quebec, Nunavut and Northwest Territories). He discovered a new kimberlitic area in the western part of European Russia and Byelorussia, where more than 10 kimberlitic pipes have been identified. In addition to his great field experience, Dr. Sablukov is one of the leading specialists in kimberlite petrology. He has carried out pioneering works in petrology and the age of Arkhangelsk kimberlitic pipes, distinguished a new, Al-series of kimberlitic rocks, discovered a zonal distribution of kimberlitic and related rocks in the northern Russian Platform, and studied numerous collections of kimberlites from different areas of Russia, Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela. Dr. Sablukov has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and periodicals, and has presented papers at the 6^th (Novosibirsk, Russia), the 7^th (Cape Town, RSA), the 8^th (Victoria, Canada), and the 9^th (Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany) International Kimberlite conferences.

Dr. Vladimir SHCHUKIN graduated and obtained, in 1977, a M.Sc. degree the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Mining Institute, specializing in the geology, prospecting and exploration of mineral deposits (Thesis: ‘Prospecting for Diamond Deposits in Northern Timan’). In 1987 he received a Ph.D. degree from the Geological Research Institute of Prospecting (Moscow) (Thesis: ‘Timan Aulacogen and its Perspective for Diamonds’). He has extensively worked in prospecting for diamonds in the Timan area, as well as in Canada (Northern Ontario, Nunavut and Northwest Territories). Dr. Shchukin participated in the discovery of the world-class diamond deposit, the Grib pipe in the Arkhangelsk area of Northern Russia, and discovered the first kimberlites in the Wawa area, Northern Ontario. He is specialized in the prospecting for diamonds in glaciated terrains. Dr. Shchukun has published 28 papers on the geology and prospecting for diamond deposits, and has given presentations at several international conferences, including the 6^th (Novosibirsk, Russia, 1995) and the 8^th (Victoria, Canada, 2003) International Kimberlite Conferences.

Vladimir SHPANOV graduated and obtained, in 1985, a M.Sc. degree from the Moscow Geological-Prospecting Institute (now Moscow Geological Academy) (Thesis: ‘Prospecting for uranium deposits in Neogene formations of the Transbaikal region’). Since then, for 25 years he specialized in the prospecting and evaluation of diamond and gold deposits in northern European Russia, southern Yakutia, Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Northern Ontario), Venezuela (Bolivar and El Dorado States), Angola, Congo, Namibia, and Brazil. Shpanov discovered a 26km-long diamondiferous dyke in Nunavut and the first lamproite in the Wawa area, Northern Ontario. He has published two articles on diamondiferous rocks, and he excels both in prospecting and the organization of new projects.

Maxim POGORELOV graduated and obtained, in 1985, a M.Sc. degree from the Moscow Geological-Prospecting Institute (now Moscow Geological Academy) (Thesis: ‘Prospecting for uranium deposits in Western Sayan Area’), specializing in the geological survey, research and prospecting of mineral deposits. Since then, for 25 years he has worked in the prospecting of diamond deposits in northern European Russia (Arkhangelsk and Timan areas), Siberia, Venezuela (Bolivar State), Angola (Provinces Cunene, Huila, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul), Canada (Northern Ontario), Congo-Kinshasa, and South Africa. He discovered new kimberlites in Venezuela and Angola and also a new diamond placer deposit in Angola.

Dr. Alexei KIRMASOV graduated and obtained, in 1995, a M.Sc. degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University. In 1998 he obtained a Ph.D. degree from the same university (Thesis: ‘Structural evolution and paleodynamics of Baikal-Muya belt in Neoproterosoic – Paleozoic’). He has worked in tectonics, tectonophysics, and structural geology, paying much attention to the structural control of primary diamond deposits. Since 2004, he has focused on gold exploration in Russia and was employed by Barrick Gold and Polyus Gold. Dr. Kirmasov has participated in fieldwork in Southern Siberia, Russian Far East, the Urals, Karelia, Caucasus (all Russia), Kazakhstan, Andes (Chile), and the Northwest Territories (Canada). For KMD he helped to compile a series of prognostication maps for different areas of Canada, which were confirmed with finds of indicator mineral haloes in delineated prospective areas. Dr. Kirmasov has published more than 15 articles concerning the tectonics and structural geology of different regions in peer-reviewed journals and periodicals. Furthermore, he is author of the book ‘Principles of Structural Analysis’ which is due to be published in 2011.

Dr. Anton KRASILNIKOV graduated and, in 1997, obtained a M.Sc. degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, specializing in Tectonics (Thesis: ‘Tectonics and geodynamic evolution of the joint zone between the Selennjahsky Anticlinorium and the Polousny Sinclinorium, Polar Yakutia’). In 2002 he obtained a Ph.D. degree from the same university (Thesis: ‘Novae and Arachnoids on planets: Geology, classification and evolution’). His specific interest is in the field of tectonics, tectonophysics and geological mapping. Dr. Krasilnikov has participated in fieldwork in Polar Siberia, Polar Urals, Karelia, Kamchatka, Korjakia, Russian Far East (all within Russia), Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Oman, and Northern Ontario and Nunavut (Canada). He has compiled prognostication maps for diamonds for several areas in Canada, Brazil, India and Madagascar. Dr. Krasilnikov has also published seven peer-reviewed articles in journals and periodicals; he is an expert in the field of GIS.

Dr. Galina KHACHATRYAN graduated and, in 1977, obtained a M.Sc. degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, specializing in mineralogy (Thesis: ‘IR-spectroscopy in studying of chemical composition and structural order-disorder in plagioclases ‘), and in 1980 obtained a Ph.D. degree from the same university (Thesis: ‘Chemical composition and structural features of plagioclases of different genesis’). After this she worked as a research scientist at the Moscow University and Central Research Institute of Geological Prospecting. Dr. Khachatryan is one of the leading specialists in the mineralogy of diamond, particularly in the study of nitrogen, hydrogen and other impurities in diamond with the aid of infrared and cathodoluminescence techniques. She has created an original technique for the prospecting of diamond deposits based on the distribution of structural defects in diamonds, for which she was awarded the Silver Medal for Achievements in the National (Russian) Economy (1986). Dr. Khachatryan is the author of three monographs, three national patents, and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles on diamond mineralogy. She has presented papers at the 6^th (Novosibirsk, Russia), 7^th (Cape Town, RSA), 8^th (Victoria, Canada) and 9^th (Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany) International Kimberlite conferences, and to the XIII IMA Congress (Varna, Bulgaria), the 29^th International Geological Congress (Kyoto, Japan), and at other international conferences.

Lyudmila SABLUKOVA graduated from the Moscow District Geological College in 1980, and in 1991 obtained a M.Sc. degree from the Leningrad Geological-Prospecting Institute (Thesis: ‘Prospecting for diamond deposits in Zolotitsa field, Zimny Bereg area, Arkhangelsk diamond province’). Her close specialty is the mineralogy of kimberlite indicator minerals and mantle xenoliths. She has studied numerous collections of mantle xenoliths from kimberlites of Arkhangelsk and Nakyn field (Siberia). Moreover, she developed a methodology of panning in the mineralogical prospecting of diamonds in glacial terrains. Based on the morphology of indicator grains, Sablukova developed a technique for the recognition of transportation distance in minerals from the glacial environment and in other areas. As a result, she has outlined highly prospective areas in Mauritania, where the first Mauritanian kimberlites were discovered. Sablukova and her mineralogical team have studied panned samples from Arkhangelsk, Siberia, numerous projects in Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Angola, and other countries. She also participated in the 6^th (Novosibirsk, Russia), 7^th (Cape Town, RSA), 8^th (Victoria, Canada) and 9^th (Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany) International Kimberlite conferences and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles.