Diavik Q4 Production 2.5 Million Carats
February 04, 07
Despite the shorter ice road shipping season in early 2006, Diavik maintained operations and construction commitments as planned, said mine operator Diavik Diamond Mines Inc (DDMI). Fourth quarter diamond production reached 2.5 million carats, largely due to higher grade ore from the A154 South kimberlite pipe, and brought rough diamond production for 2006 to 9.8 million carats.
Diavik's 2006 All Incident Frequency Rate (AIFR) improved by 30% to 1.05 exceeding the year target of 1.22 (AIFR is an industry standard calculated on number of medical treatments and lost time injuries per 200,000 hours worked).
Construction of Diavik's second rockfill dike around the A418 pipe was virtually completed, allowing dewatering to be completed as planned, DDMI said in a quarterly report. Pre-stripping of overburden to prepare for open pit mining is now underway, and crews expect to access the A418 ore body near year end.
Crews continue to advance the decline to access the A154 South and North ore bodies as part of underground mining feasibility studies. Earlier in the quarter, they reached and began underground test mining of the A418 ore body. A separate exploration decline has reached the A21 pipe and preparations are underway to remove a bulk sample for diamond valuation.
The Diavik Diamond Mine, located 300 kilometer northeast of Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is an unincorporated joint venture between DDMI (60%) and Aber Diamond Limited Partnership (40%). DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of mining group Rio Tinto.