DIAMONDS: Diavik celebrates fourth pipe opening

[caption id="attachment_1003724467" align="aligncenter" width="480"] The processing plant at the Diavik mine recovers between six million and seven million carats of diamonds annually. (Image: Rio Tinto)[/caption] NORTHWEST TERRITORIES – Mining has begun on the A21 – the fourth kimberlite pipe to be put into production at the Diavik diamond mine near Lac de Gras. The new pit will supply kimberlite to the processing plant for the next four years. The first ore from A21 was delivered in March, and the pit should be in commercial production before the end of this year. Investment in the new pit was about US$350 million. The Diavik diamond mine, located 300 km northeast of Yellowknife, began production in 2003 and has been a fully underground mining operation since 2012. The mine is owned 60% by Rio Tinto and 60% by private company Dominion Diamond Corp. An opening ceremony was held on Aug. 20, 2018, with indigenous community representatives, joint venture partners, and employees present. The Hon. Wally Schumann, NWT Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, was the guest of honor. Read all about the Diavik project at www.Diavik.ca.