International News
Rio Tinto Unveils Rare 158ct Yellow Diamond from Diavik Mine in Canada
One of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds ever discovered in Canada, the 158.20-carat gem is a remarkable find as Diavik Mine nears closure.
Rio Tinto has uncovered a rare and exceptional 158.20-carat yellow diamond at its Diavik Mine in Canada, marking one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds ever found in the country. This stunning discovery is also among only five yellow diamonds weighing over 100 carats to be unearthed by the company at Diavik throughout its 22-year history. Notably, Diavik is primarily known for producing white diamonds, with less than 1% of its output being yellow stones.
The Diavik Mine, which is set to close next year, is also responsible for several significant yellow diamond finds, including Canada’s largest yellow diamond, a 552.74-carat gem discovered in 2018, and the 187.7-carat Diavik Foxfire found in 2015.
With the closure of the Argyle mine in Australia in 2020, Diavik is now Rio Tinto’s sole diamond asset. Patrick Coppens, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamond business, expressed excitement over the unique beauty and purity of the Diavik diamonds, eagerly anticipating the future of this extraordinary find.
DiamondBuzz
Rio Tinto’s Diamond Division Posts $79 Million EBITDA Loss in 2025
Higher output from Canada’s Diavik Diamond Mine offsets revenue decline, but end-of-life pressures continue to weigh on performance.
Rio Tinto reported a challenging year for its diamond business in 2025, posting an underlying EBITDA loss of $79 million despite improved revenues. While the loss narrowed compared to the $115 million deficit recorded in 2024, the division remained under pressure amid a global diamond market slowdown and the nearing closure of its last active mine.
Annual revenue rose 19% to $332 million, supported by stronger production at the Diavik mine in Canada, Rio Tinto’s only remaining diamond operation. Output climbed 61% to 4.4 million carats, driven by the ramp-up of mining activities in the underground section of the A21 deposit, which began scaling up in late 2024.
However, the A21 underground ore body is expected to be depleted by the end of the first quarter of 2026, marking the end of Diavik’s operational life. The company plans to spend approximately $1 billion this year on closure activities related to Diavik, as well as rehabilitation work at the former Argyle Diamond Mine, which ceased production in 2020, and other non-diamond projects.
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