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Iconic Mine Sites/Argyle
Argyle

Argyle

By
WA, East Kimberley Rio Tinto Updated July 2026

Argyle was one of the world's largest diamond mines, located in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mine ceased operations in November 2020.

Commodity

Diamond

Owner

Rio Tinto

Operator

Rio Tinto

Operating Status

closed

Mining Method

Open pit and underground

History

The Argyle diamond mine was one of the world's largest diamond producers by volume and the primary source of rare pink diamonds. Discovered in 1979, the mine began open-pit production in 1985 and transitioned to underground block cave mining in 2013. The mine was operated by Rio Tinto and ceased operations in November 2020 after producing over 865 million carats of diamonds.

Why It's Iconic

Argyle produced some of the world's most famous pink and red diamonds and was one of the most significant diamond operations globally before its closure.

Scale and Production

Argyle produced over 865 million carats of diamonds over its 37-year life, including approximately 90% of the world's pink diamond supply. At its peak, the mine produced approximately 20-40 million carats per annum.

Equipment

Historical: CAT haul trucks, loaders and excavators (open pit)Underground block cave loaders and trucksProcessing plant including crushing, scrubbing and dense media separationX-ray diamond recovery systems

Technology and Autonomous Systems

Block cave mining technologyAdvanced diamond sorting and recoveryX-ray luminescence sortingAutomated processing controls

Processing Infrastructure

Argyle processed ore through a conventional diamond recovery circuit including crushing, scrubbing, dense media separation and X-ray luminescence sorting. The plant processed approximately 2-3 million tonnes of ore per annum during underground operations.

Workforce

At peak, approximately 400 employees during underground operations. The mine was primarily residential, with workers based in the nearby community of Kununurra in the East Kimberley.

Common Roles

Underground operatorsProcess techniciansHD fittersDiamond sortersSupervisors

Common Rosters

8 days on 6 days off

Major Milestones

  • 1979: Diamond deposit discovered
  • 1985: Open-pit production begins
  • 2013: Transition to underground block cave mining
  • November 2020: Mine ceases operations
  • Ongoing: Closure and rehabilitation in progress

Interesting Facts

  • Produced approximately 90% of the world's pink diamonds
  • One of the world's largest diamond producers by volume
  • Ceased operations in November 2020 after 37 years
  • Produced over 865 million carats of diamonds
  • Located in the remote East Kimberley near Kununurra
  • Transitioned from open pit to underground block cave mining in 2013

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