Production Ends at Diavik, after 23 Years and 150m carats

(IDEX Online) - Diamond production at the Diavik mine, in Canada's Northwest Territories, came to an end last week after 23 years.

It produced over 150 million carats during its lifetime, more than either of NWT's other mines - Ekati (owned by Burgundy) and Gahcho Kue (joint venture, De Beers and Mountain Province ).

The closure on Thursday, 26 March 2026, also marks the end of diamond production for owners Rio Tinto, which said the mine's economic reserves had been exhausted.

Diavik was its last diamond deposit, following the closure of Argyle, in Australia in November 2020.

The Diavik mine, on Lac de Gras, a remote lake 140 miles south of the Arctic Circle, will now undergo a long-planned-for "scheduled closure," and the site will be restored over a number of years.

Diamonds were first discovered there in 1991, and open pit and underground mining began in 2003.

"Forty years ago there were very few people who believed there were diamonds in Canada - even fewer could have foreseen how the Diavik story would unfold," said Sophie Bergeron, Rio Tinto's iron, titanium and diamonds managing director.

"To arrive at this milestone has required vision, courage and determination to overcome significant challenges to mine diamonds beneath a frozen lake in one of the world's most remote and pristine ecosystems."

The final production of Diavik rough diamonds will be polished and sold through 2026 and beyond by Rio Tinto's international network of customers, including its long-standing Select Diamantaires.