Lower Grades Dent Diavik Output

RAPAPORT... Diamond production at the Diavik mine in Canada dropped 12% year on year in the second quarter amid the recovery of lower-grade ore, according to part owner Rio Tinto.Diavik yielded 1.4 million carats for the three months ending June 30, with higher processing volumes failing to offset the lower ore grades coming from the mine's underground portion, Rio Tinto said last week.Rio Tinto's share of production came to 851,000 carats. The company owns a 60% stake in the deposit, while Dominion Diamond Mines holds the remainder.In the first half of 2021, diamond production from Diavik rose 2% to 3.1 million carats, with Rio Tinto's share coming to 1.9 million carats.The company expects total production at Diavik of 3 million to 3.8 million carats in 2021, compared to 3.7 million carats last year.Rio Tinto's other diamond mine, Argyle - which it owns fully - ended production in November. The company will sell its final colored diamonds from the site in September.Image: The Diavik mine. (Rio Tinto)