Where Diamonds are Mined

Argye mine located in the Kimberley region
in the far north east of Western Australia.
Owned by Rio Tinto, this mine is the world’s
largest single producer of volume of
diamonds.  However, due to low proportion
of gem quality diamonds it is not the value
leader.  It does produce 90-95% of the
world’s supply of pink diamonds.  

Diavik is also owned by Rio Tinto, located in
Canada it is a very large mine.   It is located
north of Yellowknife and south of the Artic
Circle on an island.  The island is connected
by an ice road.  It is also an important part of
the regions economy employing more than
700 people and producing more than 8 million
carats annually.

Ekati diamond mine is owned by BHP
Billiton and located south of the artic circle
in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
The Ekati is Canada’s first operational
diamond mine.     Diamonds mined here
are sold under the Aurias trade name  
Authenticity is verified through Canada
Mark service.  CanadaMark service is also
owned by BHP Billiton Diamonds, Inc.

Baken diamond mine is located along the
lower Orange River in South Africa.  It is
owned and operated by Trans Hex.  The
average size stone for 2004 was 1.29
carats.   In 2004, this mine produced a
78.9 carat D color flawless diamond that
sold for more than 1.8 million dollars (US),
as well as a 27.67 pink diamond that was
sold for over 1 million US dollars.

Merlin is the second of only two diamond
mines in Australia.  No longer operating it
was owned by Rio Tinto and sold to Striker
Resources, who has explored the
possibilities of reopening the mine.  

Orapa is the world’s largest diamond mine.
It us located 240 Km west of
Francistown.  The mine is owned by
“Debswana” which is a partnership
between DeBeers and the government of
Botswana. This mine operates 7 days a
week.  It maintains pre primary and
primary schools for its employee’s children.
There is also a 100 bed hospital and game
park.  This mine began production in 1971
and is the oldest mine owned by the
Debswana Company.

The Premier mine located in Cullinan, South
Africa produced the largest gem diamond
ever in 1905.  The Cullinan Diamond
weighed 3,106.75 carats.  This mine also
produced the Golden Jubilee diamond
which weighed 545.67 carats.  This mine is
owned by the De Beers Company and was
renamed The Cullinan Diamond Mine in
2003 in celebration of its centennial.