Kelsey Lake mine gears up

Diamond miners ready to dig in

VIRGINIA DALE — On the ponderosa pine-studded high plains northwest of Fort Collins, the throat of a 390-million-year-old volcano coughs up diamonds.

Now, after almost two years of dormancy, the miners that sift through thousands of tons of ore to retrieve the gems are preparing to swing back into action.

A $2 million equipment investment by the new Canadian owner of the Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine means lower production costs, higher efficiencies and greater likelihood that large, gem-quality diamonds will make their way to the retail market, resurrecting the fortunes of the only producing diamond mine in…