Overview -
The Argyle mine, located in the far northeast of Western Australia, used to be the world's largest single producer of diamonds by producing approximately one-quarter of the world's natural diamond production.
Production began in the open pit in 1985 and is projected to end in 2008. Construction of major underground structure will commence in February 2008. Full production from the underground mine is on schedule to be achieved by December 2010.
The mine is owned and operated by Rio Tinto on land owned by aboriginal communities. In 2005 a land use agreement was signed which allows for an underground mine. This would extend the life of the mine for 10 to 20 more years.
Diamonds are mined from an alluvial component and the AK1 lamproite pipe. The AK1 open pit is 2 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide. The AK1 pipe continues at depth. Feasibility studies for an underground mine began in 2003. An exploratory decline has been built, consisting of a 2.5km tunnel that will intersect the lamproite ore body at a depth 85m below the ultimate floor of the AK1 open pit.
Since commercial
production of the Argyle mine commenced, over 700 million carats of diamonds have been produced, with a peak production of 42.8 Mcts in 1994. The Argyle production consists of 5% gem and 70% near gem with the remaining 25% of the volume being industrial diamonds. The mine's pink diamonds account for less than 1%
of diamond production, which is most of the world's pink diamond production.
Argyle employs approximately 800 people and operates on a two week commute cycle.
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