Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year

The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), which is based in Luanda, Angola, and represents the interests of mainly African diamond producers and those with the potential to produce diamonds, will next year launch the Sustainable Development...

04 november 2024

Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future

Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox...

28 october 2024

Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki

The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...

14 october 2024

James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration

London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...

07 october 2024

Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products

Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...

30 september 2024

Is Argyle Diamonds running out of diamonds?

30 march 2018
Sometime in the next few years Argyle Diamonds, Australia’s biggest diamond mine and the source of rare and prized fancy pink gems, will come to the end of its life. The shutdown and the loss of Argyle’s output of 14 mn carats of diamonds a year will cut world production by around 10% and is expected to create upward pressure on prices, says a report in businessinsider-com-au.
Argyle, in operation since 1983 on an open pit went underground since 2013 producing more than 95% of Australia’s diamonds. By end of 2017, the estimated ore reserve was 16 mn tonnes, down from 29 mn tonnes, a drop of 45% end 2016, which translates to 38.5 mn recoverable carats, at a grade of 2.4 carats per tonne of ore.
In its latest report, Mining Major Rio Tinto, owner of Argyle is reported to have said, “Shut-off criteria will be reviewed regularly against price, cost performance and demonstrated operational performance. The remaining reserves underpin the operation until 2020.”
It is reported that the possible shutdown and the subsequent impact on world supply and prices, has many prospectors looking for a new source.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough& Polished