|
RAPAPORT... Rio Tinto’s diamond production fell 7 percent year on year to 3.832 million carats in the second quarter that ended on June 30, 2014. Diamond production from the company's Argyle mine in Australia fell 21 percent to 2.459 million carats due to mining operations moving from open pit to underground and from the processing of lower-grade tailings. However, production from the Diavik mine in Canada surged 38 percent year on year to 1.29 million carats due to improvements in mining rates, with all three pipes in full production, as well as due to processing plant improvements that were implemented over the past six months. Rio Tinto owns a 60 percent stake in the Diavik mine with Dominion Diamond holding a 40 percent share. Diamond production from the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe increased 21 percent to 83,000 carats due to improved throughput and processing previously stockpiled rough diamond material. Rio Tinto owns a 78 percent stake in Murowa. Rio Tinto stated that its first half diamond production at Argyle fell 4 percent year on year to 4.92 million carats, while Diavik's production jumped 15 percent to 2.409 million carats and it rose 4 percent at Murowa to 152,000 carats.
|