Although over three weeks remain until mining giant Rio Tinto plans to auction off rough diamonds from northern Canada's Diavik mine, registration for the tender has already been closed, due to the overwhelming interest expressed thus far, the Israel Diamond Exchange reports. The tender, which will occur during the IDE's second U.S. / International Diamond Week between August 16 and 29, will feature tens of millions of dollars worth of rough diamonds, and many of them will be large-size stones.

IDE president Yair Sahar, who played a major role in Rio Tinto's decision to participate in the diamond confab, expressed hope that the tender would be just the first of many mutually beneficial joint activities between the diamond bourse and the miner. Sahar also noted that the Rio Tinto tender is only one of several public sales to take place over the course of the diamond week, which will feature over a billion dollars worth of rough and polished diamonds.