Brazil
River Diamonds in UK, and Brazilian Diamonds Ltd. in Vancouver, hope to revive the Brazilian diamond industry using modern exploration technologies to locate future deposits. Rio Tinto's Desenvolvimentos Minerais Ltda ("RTDM") now has an option agreement with River Diamonds, for the exploration and future development of the Alto Paraguai/Diamantino and Paranatinga blocks. Brazilian Diamonds Ltd. (CA;BDY) River Diamonds (RVD) is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) exchange. Source: Marketwire, Incorporated
Canada
On August 17, 2006, Tahera Diamond begins operations at its Jericho open-pit mine in Nunavut Territory, Canada, 350 km southwest of Cambridge Bay. According to Tahera's purchase and marketing agreement with Tiffany & Co., Tiffany will purchase or market all of the diamond production from the mine. Source: Tahera Diamond
Democratic Republic of Congo
BHP Billiton and De Beers are in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) state-owned diamond company, regarding project acquisition within the country. Industry analysts report that the possibility for new diamond discoveries in Central and west Africa have great potential, but war and civil unrest have hampered kimberlite exploration. Source: Bloomberg L.P.
India
Dwyka Diamonds Ltd. in Perth, Western Australia, is now exploring in Andhra Pradesh along with with BHP Billiton. Dwyka's chief executive, Melissa Sturgess: "Historically, India has been the home of some of the largest diamonds ever found, including to Koh-i-Noor." Source: Dwyka Diamonds Limited
Russia
WH Ireland Ltd. diamond-mining investment analyst, James Picton: "Russia is the wild card in the diamond business..., the country could have more diamond-producing potential than Canada." Russian diamond deposits, such as the Grib kimberlite deposit near Arkhangelsk in north-west Russia, have not yet been fully developed because of legal and/or financial difficulties. WH Ireland is also exploring diamond mining in eastern Finland. Source: Das Portal der Republik Angola
Sierra Leone
Mano River Resources, Inc. in a joint venture with BHP Billiton, recently started exploration of diamond-fields in Sierra Leone, with the end to civil war declared in 2002. The partnership group is also exploring in Liberia to the east. Mano River Resources, Inc. is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) exchange. Source: Mano River Resources
South Africa & Botswana
De Beers' chief executive Gary Ralfe thinks that despite significant new exploration attempts taking place elsewhere, Botswana and South Africa will remain the dominant producers. "The mines in Canada are rich but small and do not have a long life. Russia has the mine resources to continue to produce its current share of 20 per cent of world production but not to increase it significantly. Looking ahead, there is nothing to disturb southern Africa's position as the greatest source of production." Source: NY Times
Keith Johnson, Chief executive Diamonds, London for Rio Tinto, on the future of diamond mining: "The industry has changed in a way that 10 years ago no one would have contemplated. It will be interesting to see if it changes much more in the next 10 years or whether the seismic change has now happened." The Rio Tinto Gruop is comprised of Rio Tinto Ltd. in Melbourne, Austrailia, and Rio Tinto plc in London. Rio Tinto is traded under the symbols: US: (RTP), London: (RIO.L), Aus: (RIO.AX). Source: Guardian
