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.