Rio Tinto’s Diavik Mine Produces Final Diamonds

After 23 years of operation, Rio Tinto has produced the last batch of rough from its Diavik mine in Canada.

The site, which comprised four pipes, has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough over the course of its life from open-pit and underground mining, Rio Tinto said Thursday. The site produced primarily colorless diamonds, along with a small portion of yellows.

“This is an historic day for Diavik and the Northwest Territories and a great source of pride for this unique Canadian success story,” commented Diavik chief operating officer Matthew Breen. “Diavik has been an inspired collaboration between a modern mining company and Indigenous partners with an enduring legacy of socioeconomic benefits for the north. We look forward to continuing to respectfully reclaim the land in line with our commitments to, and in partnership with, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Indigenous partners.”

Closure activities for the deposit will run through 2029. The miner will continue to sell final production “through 2026 and beyond,” it said.

Diavik was Rio Tinto’s final diamond deposit. Its Argyle mine in Australia closed in 2020, and it backed out of its joint venture with Star Diamond in 2023.

Image: An aerial view of the Diavik mine. (Rio Tinto)