Rio Tinto has announced that it has decided to invest in the development of a fourth pipe known as A21, at the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada as part of its 2015 programme of works.Diamond production at the pipe is planned forlate 2018, and is expected to provide an important source of incremental supply for Diavik, ensuring the continuation of existing production levels.

The A21 pipe development was part of the original mine plan and is estimated to cost US$350 million over four years. It is located just south of Diavik’s existing mining operations.

The development programme for this pipe will use the same design and engineering technologies used to construct the Diavik mine’s two other dikes for mining of three existing pipes. It will entail rockfill dike construction to encircle the ore body located just offshore of existing mining operations at Lac de Gras.

Prodcution at Diavik began in 2003 with operations going fully underground in 2012. Diavik’s ore reserves will be formally updated in the first quarter of 2015. The current mine plan has production ending in 2023.

Photo Courtesy: The Diavik Diamond Mine