Rio Tinto Posts Lower Output at Argyle Mine, Rise in Production From Diavik

(IDEX Online) – Rio Tinto reported an eight percent decline in production from its Argyle mine in Australia in the second quarter of this year from the year-earlier period to 3.21 million carats.

The decline was due to lower ore volumes processed following wet weather and additional maintenance required in the second quarter of this year, the miner said.

In the first half of 2017, there was a decrease of nine percent on the year to 6.32 million carats.

Meanwhile, at the Diavik mine in Canada's North West Territories where Rio has a 60-percent stake, production jumped 18 percent from a year earlier to 1.12 million carats in the second quarter.

In the first half of this year, there was an eight-percent rise to 2.25 million carats. This was a result of both higher processed volumes and higher recovered grades, Rio reported, adding that development of the A21 pipe remains on schedule.

Diamond production guidance for 2017 remains unchanged at 19 to 24 million carats, the miner said.