The Diavik Diamond Mine is located on a 20 square kilometre island, informally called East Island, in Lac de Gras, approximately 300 kilometres by air northeast of Yellowknife, capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Diamonds in Kimberlite are mined here since January 2003. 25.7 Mt of proven and probable ore reserves at an average grade of 4.2 cpt.
The mine consists of three kimberlite pipes associated with the Lac de Gras kimberlite field and is located on an island 20 square kilometres (8 sq mi) in Lac de Gras and is informally called East Island.
In the 1990s, commercial diamond mining began around Lac de Gras in Canada. Since then, the Diavik diamond mine (bottom) and Ekati diamond mine (top) have produced a combined 15 million carat of diamond each year – an annual output of 6,600 pounds (3,000 kg).
The final frame shows a close-up view of Diavik, with its two primary open pits, waste ponds, processing facilities, and an airstrip capable of landing aircraft as large as 737s and C-130s.
The owner of the mine, Rio Tinto, revealed that along the access route leading to the A154 pit, unstable ground conditions were found. As a precaution, all underground operations at the A154 mine have been temporarily suspended.
The mine’s sole owner, Rio Tinto, said earlier this year that its fourth-quarter diamond production fell by 50%, from 1.3 million carats to 659,000 carats. Notwithstanding difficulties, the company produced 3.34 million carats of diamonds overall in the fiscal year 2023—a 28% decrease from the previous year but still coming within the estimated range of 3.0 million to 3.8 million carats.
