After many years of exhaustive exploration in the Northwest Territories (NWT) by geologists, Chuck Fipke, Stu Blusson and BHP Billiton (then BHP) formed a joined venture with Dia Met Minerals Ltd to continue the exploration for diamonds in Canada's NWT. The investment paid off in 1991, when diamonds were first discovered at Point Lake, sparkling the NWT "diamond rush" - the largest mineral staking rush in North American history.