The sale, which was the mining company’s first for the year, comprised 124 lots of rough white and fancy coloured diamonds sourced from its Australian Argyle mine, Diavik mine in Canada and the Zimbabwean Murowa mine. There were 44 successful bidding companies.
The most valuable diamond in currency terms was a 70-carat white diamond from the Diavik mine, although Rio Tinto was not willing to disclose the price for which it was sold.
Fancy coloured rough diamonds from all three Rio Tinto mines also appeared to be in demand, with the company reporting an “unprecedented” level of bidding for its yellow, champagne, cognac, pink and purple diamonds.
Rio Tinto general manager for diamond production sales, Patrick Coppens, said, “We were delighted with the bidding, the global nature of the successful bidders and the final result.”
Rio Tinto holds a number of rough diamond tenders, with the next one taking place in Antwerp next month. The sale will include a range of rough diamonds from the Diavik mine.