Diamonds
- Diamonds were first found in Western Australia during 1895, in alluvial deposits near Nullagine in the Pilbara. However it was 1972 before modern scientific diamond exploration began in the Kimberley, with the first diamond bearing pipe discovered near Fitzroy Crossing in 1976. The Argyle Pipe, with grades up to ten times that of many South African mines, was discovered in 1979.
- A hard, compact, crystalline form of carbon, diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance and have important industrial and domestic applications. They are used in drill bits for mining and exploration, glass cutters, saws and abrasives. The highest grade, gem quality diamonds are used in jewellery.
- Diamond mining usually commences as an open cut operation, however Rio Tinto's Argyle mine, the world's largest diamond producer, is shifting from an open pit to an underground operation. After extraction, the diamond ore is crushed, washed and sieved. Photoelectric technology is employed to sort the diamonds before further processing.
To download a copy of the Diamond fact sheet click here.
| Maps |
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| Major Mineral and Petroleum Projects in Western Australia (530.84 KB .pdf) |
