Rio Tinto Announces Development Of A21 Pipe At Diavik Mine Site - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto, operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada, has formally approved the development of a fourth pipe, known as A21, at the remote subarctic Diavik mine site. The A21 pipe development was part of the original mine plan and is likely to cost $350 million over four years. The Diavik Joint Venture, comprised of Rio Tinto 60 per cent; Dominion Diamond Corporation 40 percent, has approved the 2015 programme of works and the A21 diamond production is planned for late 2018. The A21 production would provide an important source of incremental supply for Diavik, ensuring the continuation of existing production levels. The A21 kimberlite pipe is located just south of Diavik's existing mining operations. A21 development will require rockfill dike construction to encircle the ore body located just offshore of existing mining operations at Lac de Gras. Diavik would make use of the same innovative design and engineering technologies used to construct the Diavik mine's two other dikes that enabled mining of three existing pipes. The Diavik Diamond Mine, located 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, began production in 2003 and became a fully underground mining operation in 2012.