Rio Tinto Processes Diamonds from Shuttered Diavik

Australia-based miner Rio Tinto has recovered diamonds from the remaining ore at its Canadian Diavik mine following its closure.

The company retrieved 33,000 carats in the second quarter that ended June 30, it reported last week. The Diavik mine closed in March after it reached its end of life. However, the miner will continue to manufacture and sell final production at least until the end of 2026.

Output plunged 97% both compared to the previous quarter and year on year. Meanwhile, it produced 1.1 million carats in the first half of 2026, a 51% drop from the same period of 2025.

The Diavik mine was Rio Tinto’s last remaining diamond resource. The company closed its Argyle mine in Australia in 2020 and, three years later, sold its 75% stake in the Fort à la Corne diamond exploration project in Saskatchewan to joint-venture partner Star Diamond Corporation, as part of a strategy to focus on metals and other minerals. Rio Tinto continues to run a diamond-exploration program in Angola.

Image: Rough diamonds from the Diavik mine. (Diavik Diamond Mine)