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YELLOWKNIFE, Canada – Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada has reached a significant milestone of producing 150 million carats of rough diamonds since the mine commenced production in 2003.
Diavik mine, located on an island in a remote sub-Arctic lake, produces predominantly gem quality white diamonds and a small quantity of yellow diamonds, destined for high end jewellery in all major consumer markets around the world.
Diavik is the first diamond mine in Canada to achieve 150 million carats of rough diamond production, surpassing the original expectations in the late 1990s of just over 100 million carats.
From the beginning, Diavik has set new benchmarks in technology, partnerships and sustainability, with its diamonds revered for their Canadian origin and pure provenance.
Matthew Breen, Chief Operating Officer of the Diavik mine said, “We are proud to reach this milestone, a testament to the focus of the Diavik team and their commitment to safe and effective operations despite challenging operating conditions.
Strong and respectful partnerships are at the heart of the way we work at Diavik and I would like to thank all our investors, our community, business and government partners and our workforce, for their support in reaching this production milestone.”
Diavik mine, comprising four pipes, is scheduled to end production in early 2026. Planning for closure has been ongoing throughout the life of Diavik, with closure goals covering safety, land use, landforms, water, biodiversity, community capacity and resource development.
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