The Merlin diamond mine is one of only three diamond mines in Australia. The mine is located in the Northern Territory of Australia, about 80 kilometres south of Borroloola. The mine operated for a period of about three years from 2000 to mid-2003, during which time it produced about 500,000 carats (100 kg) of high quality diamonds.
The Merlin mine has an unusually high proportion of gem-quality diamonds: 65% of production is gem-quality, and only 35% is classified as near-gem or industrial quality. This compares to a worldwide average of just 20% gem-quality diamond production at diamond mines worldwide, and a mere 5% gem-quality production at Australia's largest diamond mine, Argyle diamond mine. The high ratio of gem-quality diamonds is responsible for a relatively high value of $108 USD per carat (540 $/g). The known ore grade at Merlin is about 0.2 carats (40 mg) per tonne, although exploration continues under the mine's new owner. The largest diamond produced at the Merlin mine measured 104.73 carats (20.946 g), the largest ever found in Australia, and has been valued at over US$525,000 .
The mine and mining rights were sold by Rio Tinto Group, to Striker Resources, which explored the possibility of reopening it . Striker has since become North Australian Diamonds , a company which operated the mine for a short period in 2006. Rio Tinto originally acquired the mining lease after a takeover of Ashton mining (November 2000) in which it also gained full control of the Argyle diamond mine. Ashton mining initially developed and operated the mine.
merlin, diamond, mine, only, three, diamond, mines, australia, mine, located, northern, territory, australia, about, kilometres, south, borroloola, mine, operated, period, about, three, years, from, 2000, 2003, during, which, time, produced, about, carats, hig. The Merlin diamond mine is one of only three diamond mines in Australia The mine is located in the Northern Territory of Australia about 80 kilometres south of Borroloola The mine operated for a period of about three years from 2000 to mid 2003 during which time it produced about 500 000 carats 100 kg of high quality diamonds Merlin diamond mineLocationMerlin diamond mineLocation in AustraliaLocationBorroloolaTerritoryNorthern TerritoryCountryAustraliaCoordinates16 51 S 136 20 E 16 85 S 136 34 E 16 85 136 34ProductionProductsDiamondsHistoryOpened2000Closed2003OwnerCompanyNorth Australian Diamonds LimitedWebsitehttp www nadl com au The Merlin mine has an unusually high proportion of gem quality diamonds 65 of production is gem quality and only 35 is classified as near gem or industrial quality This compares to a worldwide average of just 20 gem quality diamond production at diamond mines worldwide and a mere 5 gem quality production at Australia s largest diamond mine Argyle diamond mine The high ratio of gem quality diamonds is responsible for a relatively high value of 108 USD per carat 540 g The known ore grade at Merlin is about 0 2 carats 40 mg per tonne although exploration continues under the mine s new owner The largest diamond produced at the Merlin mine measured 104 73 carats 20 946 g the largest ever found in Australia and has been valued at over US 525 000 1 The mine and mining rights were sold by Rio Tinto Group to Striker Resources which explored the possibility of reopening it 2 Striker has since become North Australian Diamonds 3 a company which operated the mine for a short period in 2006 Rio Tinto originally acquired the mining lease after a takeover of Ashton mining November 2000 in which it also gained full control of the Argyle diamond mine Ashton mining initially developed and operated the mine References edithttps web archive org web 20050613115554 http www mbendi co za indy ming dmnd au au p0005 htm https web archive org web 20050109042701 http www minesite com archives news archive 2004 june 2004 striker030604 htm https web archive org web 20050221155155 http nlc org au html wht lrn 2003 oct02 html http www nationalminingindustry com au diamonds au archive 2009 htm permanent dead link External links editMerlin Deposit Summary Report Merlin nbsp This Northern Territory geography article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merlin diamond mine amp oldid 1183533388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
