The diamond mining industry is named the best-kept secret industry of the world. Here are the richest diamond mines in the world based on public documents and information provided by the Rapaport Diamond Report.
Jwaneng
Carats: 11.5 million (2009)
Location: Botswana
The Jwaneng is owned by Debswana and was opened in 1982. Jwaneng is now the richest diamond mine in the world which is located in the south-central Botswana about 120 kilometers west of the city of Gaborone. The mine produces 9.3 million tons per year of ore. Especially, the mine produced 11.5 million carats from 2 million metric tons of rock in 2009.
Jwaneng
Argyle
Carats: 9.8 million (2010)
Location: Australia
The Argyle mine, which has made more than 750 million carats through 2010, is now the world’s largest producer of pink diamond
Orapa
Carats: 9.53 million (2010)
Location: Botswana
Another Debswana-owned mine, open-pit mine Orapa, opened in 1971 and produced 9.53 million carats in 2010
Catoca
Carats: 7.5 million (2009)
Location: Angola
The Catoca mine, which is located in Angola and owned by a consortium, is considered the fourth-largest kimberlite pipe which has been producing more than 60 million carats over its lifetimes
Diavik
Carats: 6.5 million (2010)
Location: Canada
Located in Canada’s Northwest Territories, the open-pit mine produces high-grade gem quality stones
Venetia
Carats: 4.3 million (2010)
Location: South Africa
Venetia Mine is now the largest producer of diamonds in South Africa which processed more than 4 million metric tons of rock in 2010
Ekati
Carats: 3 million (2010)
Location: Canada
The Ekati mine in Canada, which is owned mainly by BHP Billiton, produces 3% of the world’s annual volume of diamonds by weight and 9% of value
Finsch
Carats: 1.3 million (2010)
Location: South Africa
The Finsch open-pit mine, South Africa’s second-largest by production, began its operation in 1978 and produced 1.3 million carats in 2010
Letlhakane
Carats: 1.2 million (2010)
Location: Botswana
The Letlhakane mine, which is owned by both De Beers and the government of Botswana, is situated near Orapa mine
Kimberley
Carats: 100,000 (2010)
Location: South Africa
South Africa’s Kimberley, which also known as Big Hole, is the largest hand-dug hole in the world
