Australian miner Rio Tinto has unearthed from its Diavik mine one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds ever discovered in Canada.

The 158.20-carat rough diamond was mined from Diavik located 200km south of the Arctic Circle in the remote Northwest Territories of Canada.

It is one of only five yellow diamonds weighing more than 100 carats ever uncovered at Diavik in its 22-year history, according to Rio Tinto. Diavik’s production primarily consists of white gem-quality diamonds, with less than one per cent of its production yielding rare yellow diamonds.

Matt Breen, chief operating officer of Diavik Diamond Mine, remarked, “This two-billion-year-old natural Canadian diamond is a miracle of nature and testament to the skill and fortitude of all the men and women who work in Diavik’s challenging sub-Arctic environment.”

The Diavik mine, which opened in 2003, has a solid sustainability agenda, with renewable energy being an important part of its off-grid operations, revealed Rio Tinto. The site has been using a hybrid wind-diesel power facility since 2012 and in 2024, it completed construction of a solar power plant.