Rio Tinto Q3 Production 6.77 Million Carats
October 17, 07
Mining giant Rio Tinto released their third quarter operations results for the period ending September 30, in which they posted total production of 6,770,000 carats. Total production from Argyle and Diavik combined was 6,739,000; with production from the Murowa mine understood to make up the difference – 31,000 carats.
Argyle’s diamond production was 4,865,000, a 42 percent drop from the third quarter of 2006, and production from Diavik totaled 1,874 carats, a 10 percent year-over-year increase.
The firm noted that Argyle’s production remained low in this period due to “continued low feed grade associated with current mining locations.” Variability in feed grade and production rates is expected to continue as the open-pit mine nears the end of its production life and the mine transitions to an underground operation.
Diavik’s production was lower than the second quarter, in which record production levels were achieved.
Gold production for the third quarter totaled 335,000 ounces mined and 128,000 refined, a decrease from the 137 from last year.