Rio unveils three large diamonds

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Rio Tinto and its joint venture partner Dominion Diamond Mines have revealed three of the finest large rough diamonds from the Diavik mine, in Canada, that will be up for tender, closing on October 25.

Collectively known as the Diavik Stars of the Arctic, the three rough diamonds will headline Rio’s forthcoming "Specials" Tender, which showcases rough diamonds greater than 10.8 ct.

Taking inspiration from constellations across the night skies of the North, the Diavik Stars of the Arctic comprise the Vega of the Arctic, a 177.71 ct stone and one of the largest and most valuable gem quality rough diamonds ever produced in Canada.

The Altair of the Arctic is a 59.10 ct white gem quality rough diamond, while the Capella of the Arctic is a 24.82 ct yellow diamond.

The discovery of Capella of the Arctic is very rare, with the mine on average producing only five of these diamonds each year, in effect less than 0.001% of annual production.

“Diavik diamonds are over two-billion years old and it has taken 15 years of production to unearth these extraordinary diamonds, underscoring the ongoing importance of the Diavik orebody in the context of the global diamond industry,” said Diavik Diamond Mines president and COO Patrick Boitumelo.

The Diavik mine, which is 60% held by Rio, started production in 2003 and has been a fully underground mining operation since 2012. It recently opened its fourth pipe, the A21 pipe, which will provide an important source of incremental production.