Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Argyle Mine

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Australia

Argyle Mine

Location: 37 km NE from Warmun, Western Australia, Australia

Regional Office:

Level 16, Central Park 152-158 St Georges Terrace
Perth
Western Australia, Australia
6000

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusClosing / Closed
Commodities
  • Diamond
Mining Method
  • Block caving
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotThe last day of mining at Argyle was 3 November 2020. This marked the beginning of the transition to the lengthy and detailed closure process. Argyle has a mine closure plan, that outlines approach to decommission the mine, reshape and rehabilitate the land, preserve ecological and cultural heritage values, support future land uses by Traditional Owners and ensure a smooth transition for the local community.

Rio Tinto expect it will take 3 to 5 years to dismantle the operational infrastructure, reshape the land and undertake revegetation activities to enable the re-establishment of a natural ecosystem.

In 2023, completed removal of the processing plant above ground infrastructure, continued reprofiling of the alluvial mining and waste rock landforms and capping of the tailings storage facility.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Rio Tinto plc 100 % Indirect
Argyle Diamond Ltd. 100 % Direct

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Lamproite

Summary:

The Argyle AK1 pipe represented the first major deposit of diamonds found in lamproite (a kind of volcanic rock similar to kimberlite).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

The Argyle diamond mine closed on 3 November 2020.
CommodityUnits202020192018201720162015
All production numbers are expressed as mineral.

Operational metrics

Metrics2018201720162015
Tonnes processed 5 Mt of ore5.1 Mt of ore4.8 Mt of ore
Plant annual capacity 11 Mt of ore

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 24, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 24, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 24, 2024

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required 2016
...... Subscription required 2015

Aerial view:

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