Rio Tinto unearths exceptional yellow diamond

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has discovered one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds to ever be found. Weighing in at 158.20 carats, this rough diamond was found at its Diavik diamond mine located in the remote Northwest Territories of Canada.

This is one of five diamonds weighing in over at 100 carats to ever be found at Diavik in its two decades of operation. Diamond production at Diavik is primarily white gem quality diamonds, with less than a percent of its production yielding yellow diamonds.

Diavik diamond mine chief operating officer Matt Breen says that the two-billion-year-old natural Canadian diamond is a miracle of nature.

“It is a testament to the skill and fortitude of all the men and women who work in Diavik’s challenging sub-Arctic-environment,” he said.

Diavik has been operating since 2003 and alongside mining some of the worlds best quality diamonds, is also committed to operating sustainably. Renewable energy is an integral part of this off grid operation with the site operating a hybrid wind-diesel power facility since 2012. The wind farm generates enough renewable energy to power Diavik’s entire underground mine. Since its installation the farm has generated 191MWh and saved 118,000t of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to 43.4ML of diesel.

In 2024, as Rio Tinto inches closer to achieving net zero operations by 2050, Diavik also saw the completion of Canada’s largest solar power plant.

In recent news, Rio Tinto confirmed it will supply 70% of the iron ore for Primetals’ industrial-scale prototype plant in Austria. The plant, scheduled for 2027, will feature a new process for potential net-zero carbon dioxide emissions ironmaking.

Primetals Technologies chief technology officer and green steel head Alexander Fleischanderl says that Primetals Technologies is very proud to have such a strong partner as Rio Tinto to help make a difference to the future of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions ironmaking.