The mine is 525 meters (1,722 ft) deep and has a diameter of 1,200 m (3,900 ft).The mine is so big and giat that the airspace above the mine is closed for helicopters because of a few incidents in which they were sucked in by the downward air flow. To give an idea how big it is here is is a fine illustration. The mine was discovered on June 13, 1955 by Soviet geologists Yuri Khabardin, Ekaterina Elagina and Viktor Avdeenko during the large Amakinsky Expedition in Yakut ASSR. They found traces of volcanic rock kimberlite which are usually associated with diamonds. This finding was the first success in the search for kimberlite in Russia, after numerous failed expeditions of the 1940s and 1950s. For this discovery, in 1957 Khabardin was given the Lenin Prize, which was one of the highest awards in the Soviet Union. The development of the mine had started in 1957 in extremely harsh climate conditions.
Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda akipokea Tuzo ya Utoaji huduma bora ya Afya na Usalama kazini kwa niaba ya Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, Tawala za Mikoa na Serikali za Mitaa kutoka kwa Waziri wa Kazi na Ajira, Gaundentia Kabaka katika Kilele cha Maadhimisho ya siku ya Afya na Usalama Duaniani kwenye uwanja wa Shikh Amri Abeid, Arusha Aprili 28, 20113.(Picha na Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu)