SourcingApr 18, 2024
Diamond Trade Remains Cautious Amid Economic UncertaintySourcingApr 24, 2024
Rio Tinto’s Q1 Production Drops Amid Pause to Honor Lost Colleagues
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
Production fell 22 percent year-over-year to 740,000 carats in the first quarter at Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to include the names of those killed in the Jan. 23 plane crash.
London—Rio Tinto reported a 22 percent year-over-year drop in production in the first quarter at its sole remaining diamond operation, the Diavik Diamond Mine.
The mine produced 740,000 carats in Q1, compared with 954,000 in the first quarter of 2023.
Rio Tinto reported first-quarter results for Diavik last week alongside results for its iron ore, bauxite, aluminum, and copper operations.
The first thing the company mentioned in its news release was the January airplane crash that killed six and injured one.
“We have been deeply affected by the loss of four Diavik colleagues and two airline crew members in a plane crash in January,” Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said. “This tragedy has strengthened our resolve to never be complacent about safety.”
The plane, a chartered Jetstream twin-turboprop en route to the remote Diavik mine, crashed shortly after takeoff from Fort Smith Airport in the Northwest Territories on the morning of Jan. 23.
Related stories will be right here …
London—Rio Tinto reported a 22 percent year-over-year drop in production in the first quarter at its sole remaining diamond operation, the Diavik Diamond Mine.
The mine produced 740,000 carats in Q1, compared with 954,000 in the first quarter of 2023.
Rio Tinto reported first-quarter results for Diavik last week alongside results for its iron ore, bauxite, aluminum, and copper operations.
The first thing the company mentioned in its news release was the January airplane crash that killed six and injured one.
“We have been deeply affected by the loss of four Diavik colleagues and two airline crew members in a plane crash in January,” Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said. “This tragedy has strengthened our resolve to never be complacent about safety.”
The plane, a chartered Jetstream twin-turboprop en route to the remote Diavik mine, crashed shortly after takeoff from Fort Smith Airport in the Northwest Territories on the morning of Jan. 23.
The four Diavik workers killed in the crash have been identified as Diane Balsillie, Howard (Howie) Benwell, Joel Tetso, and Shawn Krawec, while the sole survivor was Kurt Macdonald.
Paszolo Alba was the airline crew member who was killed, while the second crew member hasn’t been publicly identified.
Rio Tinto said last week that it is continuing to work with Canadian authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash.
To grieve and honor the workers who died, the mine took a “production pause,” which led to the 22 percent year-over-year drop in production.
Quarter-to-quarter, production rose 12 percent from 659,000 carats mined in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Rio Tinto said continued production improvement from the A154 North underground pipe and ore development at the A21 underground project helped to offset the depletion of two ore bodies last year.
The company announced in March that it is going underground on the A21 pipe, a multi-million-dollar project that, if fully approved, will extend Diavik’s life into the first quarter of 2026.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Sourcing
The Latest
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
