Rio Tinto's second quarter reports show a drop in production at the company's Argyle diamond mine, but a rise at Diavik. The 39% decrease at Argyle as compared to Q2 of 2010 is attributed to significant rainfall in March and April of this year, and lower grades being extracted from the North Pit as compared to the South Pit that was excavated last year. Meanwhile, the 11% climb at Diavik is attributed to an increase in the ore processed from mine sequencing and the higher grades accessed in the A418 open pit.



Rio Tinto is predicting production of 13 million carats of diamonds in 2011.