Rio opens new diamond pipe in subarctic Canada

Rio Tinto opened today a fourth diamond pipe at the subarctic Diavik Diamond Mine, located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, 220 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle.

In a press release, the Anglo Australian miner said that the new open-pit pipe will provide an important source of “incremental supply over the next four years to sustain production levels at the Rio Tinto operated mine.”

In the same statement, the company explained that A21 is located adjacent to Diavik’s existing mining operations in the Lac de Gras area. It took four years to build the pipe and first ore was delivered in March. Rio expects it to be at full production during the fourth quarter of 2018.

“It is a remarkable achievement to deliver this project safely and ahead of time in such a challenging environment, positioning Diavik to continue meeting the demand for its outstanding diamonds,” Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive, Arnaud Soirat, said in the brief.

Some $350 million were invested in the construction of A21, with the financial burden shared between Rio and joint venture partner Dominion Diamond Corporation, the latter in control of 40 per cent of the operation.

As a whole, Diavik started activities in 2003 and has an annual production of some 6-7 million carats of predominantly large, white gem-quality diamonds.

Source: mining.com

Rio opens new diamond pipe in subarctic Canada

Rio Tinto opened today a fourth diamond pipe at the subarctic Diavik Diamond Mine, located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, 220 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle.

In a press release, the Anglo Australian miner said that the new open-pit pipe will provide an important source of “incremental supply over the next four years to sustain production levels at the Rio Tinto operated mine.”

In the same statement, the company explained that A21 is located adjacent to Diavik’s existing mining operations in the Lac de Gras area. It took four years to build the pipe and first ore was delivered in March. Rio expects it to be at full production during the fourth quarter of 2018.

“It is a remarkable achievement to deliver this project safely and ahead of time in such a challenging environment, positioning Diavik to continue meeting the demand for its outstanding diamonds,” Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive, Arnaud Soirat, said in the brief.

Some $350 million were invested in the construction of A21, with the financial burden shared between Rio and joint venture partner Dominion Diamond Corporation, the latter in control of 40 per cent of the operation.

As a whole, Diavik started activities in 2003 and has an annual production of some 6-7 million carats of predominantly large, white gem-quality diamonds.

Source: mining.com

US change of ‘diamond’ definition has Indian exports worried

India’s diamond exports to the United States of America is under threat after that country’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced last month that there would henceforth be no distinction between natural and man made sparklers.

The FTC had originally defined a diamond as “a natural mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system”. The definition has now been modified with the word “natural” removed from it. The FTC went on to say that the definition of a diamond was being changed because it was now possible to create diamonds in a laboratory. “These stones have essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds. 

Thus, they are diamonds,” FTC’s statement said. Lab-grown diamonds or “American diamonds”, as they are called, are expected to receive a big boost since the US is one of the biggest markets in the world for smaller diamonds. According to diamond traders here lab-grown diamonds are almost 40 per cent cheaper than those mined from the bowels of the earth. 

It is felt that continuing technological advances in the field will bring down the price of lab-grown diamonds even more in the coming years. India, which exported $8 billion worth of polished diamonds to the US in 2017, is worried. “We are already been reaching out to different industry bodies and stakeholders to help fashion a common global response,” Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council said in a statement here last week. 

The country’s apex body of gem and jewellery exporters went on to say that it was not opposed to synthetic or lab-grown diamonds. “We have always maintained that it can be developed as a separate vertical that is not confused with the natural diamond pipeline,” Ray added.

Source:DCLA

US change of ‘diamond’ definition has Indian exports worried

India’s diamond exports to the United States of America is under threat after that country’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced last month that there would henceforth be no distinction between natural and man made sparklers.

The FTC had originally defined a diamond as “a natural mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system”. The definition has now been modified with the word “natural” removed from it. The FTC went on to say that the definition of a diamond was being changed because it was now possible to create diamonds in a laboratory. “These stones have essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds. 

Thus, they are diamonds,” FTC’s statement said. Lab-grown diamonds or “American diamonds”, as they are called, are expected to receive a big boost since the US is one of the biggest markets in the world for smaller diamonds. According to diamond traders here lab-grown diamonds are almost 40 per cent cheaper than those mined from the bowels of the earth. 

It is felt that continuing technological advances in the field will bring down the price of lab-grown diamonds even more in the coming years. India, which exported $8 billion worth of polished diamonds to the US in 2017, is worried. “We are already been reaching out to different industry bodies and stakeholders to help fashion a common global response,” Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council said in a statement here last week. 

The country’s apex body of gem and jewellery exporters went on to say that it was not opposed to synthetic or lab-grown diamonds. “We have always maintained that it can be developed as a separate vertical that is not confused with the natural diamond pipeline,” Ray added.

Source:DCLA

How to Remove a Stuck Ring Safely

A stuck ring can simply be the result of wearing a ring that’s too small. It can also be caused from arthritis of joints, which can happen as your body changes over the years. This can cause the joints and/or tissue to swell, which prevents you from removing your ring.

When you can’t simply slide your ring off, try these steps for safely removing a ring:

1. Squirt some Windex – yes Windex – on the finger and ring. Or, use any lubricant such as soap or oil.
2. Elevate the hand overhead for 5-10 minutes with ice around the ring and finger.
3. Use dental floss or a thread to compress the swollen finger as shown:

a. Slip the thread or floss under the stuck ring with the bulk of it toward the fingertip.

b. Beginning at the top of the ring, snuggly wrap the finger with the thread/floss around and around, compressing the finger, all the way up and over the knuckle.

c. With the end that was under the ring, begin to unwrap the thread or floss with the ring sliding over the knuckle as you go.

*If all else fails, cut the ring off with a ring cutter found in jewelry stores, fire departments and emergency rooms.
See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJHUAwEx1bY
Source: assh.org

How to Remove a Stuck Ring Safely

A stuck ring can simply be the result of wearing a ring that’s too small. It can also be caused from arthritis of joints, which can happen as your body changes over the years. This can cause the joints and/or tissue to swell, which prevents you from removing your ring.

When you can’t simply slide your ring off, try these steps for safely removing a ring:

1. Squirt some Windex – yes Windex – on the finger and ring. Or, use any lubricant such as soap or oil.
2. Elevate the hand overhead for 5-10 minutes with ice around the ring and finger.
3. Use dental floss or a thread to compress the swollen finger as shown:

a. Slip the thread or floss under the stuck ring with the bulk of it toward the fingertip.

b. Beginning at the top of the ring, snuggly wrap the finger with the thread/floss around and around, compressing the finger, all the way up and over the knuckle.

c. With the end that was under the ring, begin to unwrap the thread or floss with the ring sliding over the knuckle as you go.

*If all else fails, cut the ring off with a ring cutter found in jewelry stores, fire departments and emergency rooms.
See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJHUAwEx1bY
Source: assh.org

ALROSA To Hold Auction Of Large Diamonds In Israel

Alrosa the world’s largest diamond miner, will hold an auction for the sale of special size rough diamonds weighing over 10.8 carats in Israel from August 19 to September 6.

The company will auction 202 gem quality rough diamonds with a total weight of 3,165 carats. About 100 companies from Israel, Belgium, India, Hong Kong and Russia were invited to participate in the auction.

“The end of summer is traditionally a good time for auctions the demand for rough diamonds is growing. It is also relevant for Israel where our goods are always in demand and most local companies specialize in large size rough diamonds.

 According to all these factors we made changes to our plans and increased the number of stones for the sale. Now we look forward to a high demand for our diamonds and good results of the auction,” said Evgeny Agureev, a Member of the Executive committee, Director of the USO ALROSA.

Under Russian law, diamonds of special sizes weighing over 10.8 carats can only be sold at auctions.
ALROSA will hold another auction in Israel in November.

Source: IDEX Online