Diavik

Rough diamonds

Product

4.65M

Carats production

100%

Ownership

2003

Started

Northwest Territories

About 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, at the bottom of Lac de Gras in Canada's Northwest Territories, sit some of the world’s most beautiful and sought-after diamonds.

The Diavik Diamond Mine, which we own and manage, comprises four diamond-bearing pipes that we mine using a combination of open pit and underground mining. Our diamonds from Diavik are stunning white gems, produced to the highest possible standards of safety and integrity.

This is life, only in Canada

Innovation at Diavik

The design, construction and operation of Diavik is a story of success on a grand scale, in part because it is in one of the most challenging environments in the world: the sub-arctic tundra, one of the world’s pristine environments with one of the most delicate ecosystems. We are committed to protecting the biodiversity of this unique landscape.

And, through innovation, world class engineering technologies and partnering with Indigenous people, we are able to mine some of the world’s most ethical diamonds with a minimal impact on the local land, water, and wildlife.

All mines have a finite life cycle and Diavik has planned for its closure from the outset. The buildings on site have been designed to be removed. And when mining ends, the embankments will be reclaimed and lake water will flow back into the open pit.

Holding back the waters

We have developed world class engineering technology and techniques to hold back the waters of Lac de Gras (to reach the diamond-bearing pipes at the bottom of the lake) in a way that minimises disturbance. Once we have built the embankment, creating a pool of water within the lake, we pump millions of litres from this pool back into the lake, monitoring water quality and fish stocks.

Growth

In 2018, we commissioned the fourth diamond pipe, known as A21, at the Diavik Diamond Mine. The pipe provides an important source of incremental ore supply as an open pit while options to mine underground are explored.

Offsetting emissions
Our focus on minimising our environmental impact was also inherent in our construction of an award-winning wind farm that generates enough renewable energy to power Diavik’s underground mine. It is one of the largest hybrid wind-diesel power facilities at a remote mine site and, since coming online in 2012, the windfarm has offset Diavik’s diesel use by over 38 million litres and reduced the overall greenhouse gas emissions by 105,000 tonnes.
Planning for closure
All mines have a finite life cycle and Diavik has planned for its closure from the outset. The buildings on site have been designed to be removed without a trace. And when mining ends, the embankments will be reclaimed and lake water will flow back into the open pit.
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