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

Summary

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusClosing / Closed
Commodities
  • Diamond
Mining Method
  • Block caving
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotArgyle was one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds and the largest supplier of natural coloured diamonds – including white, yellow, brown, blue, violet and the rare and the highly-coveted Argyle pink and red diamonds.

The 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.

Was reached over 60% overall project completion, and plans are underway to start removing the Argyle mine accommodation facilities, airport and utilities infrastructure in 2025.

Expecting, it will take 5 years to dismantle the operational infrastructure, reshape the land and begin revegetation.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Rio Tinto plc 100 % Indirect
Rio Tinto Plc owns and operates the Argyle mine through its subsidiary Argyle Diamond Ltd.

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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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity Production

The Argyle diamond mine closed on 3 November 2020.
CommodityUnits202020192018201720162015
Diamond k carats  ....  Subscribe12,99914,06917,13513,95813,472
All production numbers are expressed as mineral.

Operational metrics

Metrics2018201720162015
Tonnes processed 5 Mt5.1 Mt4.8 Mt
Plant annual capacity 11 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 17, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 17, 2025

Workforce

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

Aerial view:

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