In a twist of geological poetry, Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories has delivered one of its most exceptional finds yet — a 158.20-carat gem-quality yellow diamond — just as the mine prepares to shutter its operations.
The discovery of this rare stone, one of the largest yellow diamonds ever found in Canada, and only the fifth yellow diamond over 100 carats unearthed at Diavik, underscores the mine’s uncanny ability to surprise even in its final chapter.
With production expected to wrap by early 2026, the timing of this discovery is as bittersweet as it is brilliant — a final encore from a mine that’s been rewriting North America’s diamond story for over two decades.
Situated 200 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, the Diavik mine has operated since 2003 under some of the harshest conditions on Earth. While it’s long been known for producing high-quality white diamonds, yellow diamonds have remained an elusive rarity, making up less than 1% of its total output.
The mine’s sub-Arctic setting, surrounded by frozen lakes and permafrost, has added layers of complexity to every operation — making each gem pulled from its ancient kimberlite pipes a triumph of both nature and engineering.
This isn’t the first time Diavik has stunned the world with a yellow gem of staggering proportions. In 2018, the mine unearthed the legendary 552.74-carat yellow diamond — the largest ever found in North America. Roughly the size of a chicken egg and bearing a unique bi-color transition from vibrant yellow to near white, the diamond was a showstopper even in its rough form.
After nearly a year of precision mapping and cutting, the 552 gave birth to “The Dancing Sun” — a 204.36-carat, fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond with VVS2 clarity. The finished gem dazzled its way to the auction block at Christie’s in New York, ultimately selling for nearly $5 million in June 2021. It remains the largest polished yellow diamond ever cut in North America and a shining emblem of Diavik’s surprising legacy.
That such a rare gem — the 158.20-carat yellow — would be found as the mine winds down feels like a fitting curtain call. It’s a quiet irony not lost on those who have worked in the frozen north to pull beauty from the bedrock.
“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,” said Matt Breen, Chief Operating Officer at Diavik.
Though the mine’s future may be measured in months, its legacy will be measured in carats (140 million since commercial production began in 2003) and moments like these. Diavik may be entering its twilight, but it’s not going quietly.
Credits: Photo of 158.20-carat yellow diamond courtesy of Rio Tinto. Photo of "552" diamond by The Jeweler Blog. Photo of "The Dancing Sun" diamond courtesy of Christie’s.