Divorce puts mining firm on the block.(Brief Article)

Dia Met Minerals, which owns a stake in Ekati, Canada's first active diamond mine in the Northwest Territories in Canada, has put itself up for sale after its founder's ex-wife and a director said they wanted to sell their combined 38 percent interest in the mining company.

Last year, Dia Met founder Charles Fipke's ex-wife Marlene received a 21 percent stake in Dia Met, worth $C128 million as part of a divorce settlement. Marlene Fipke and another Dia Met director, David Mackenzie, have both told the company they want to sell their shares. Mackenzie owns a 12.5 per cent interest.

Michael Curran, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, noted that Dia Met might be …