A variety of gem-quality colourless, yellow and brown diamonds were found at the upper A-Layer and deeper B-Layer gravel deposits weighing between 0.41 to 0.66 carats. The discovery was made after evaluating a small volume of gravel samples for this year’s mining season.
Last year, an extremely rare ‘double diamond’ was also discovered and expected to increase diamond production at the mine.
The 0.85 carat diamond that had a smaller stone enclosed within a cavity inside the stone was unearthed some 200 kilometres below the surface at the same alluvial deposit.
In 2020, IBDH also unearthed unique yellow diamonds with a rare purple fluorescence in the same area.
IBDH is one of the few mining companies attempting to boost production of colour diamonds to meet the increasing demand worldwide amid the supply shortage following the closure of Argyle Mine, which was the largest source of colour diamonds- most notably pink diamonds.
In early 2021, IBDH was granted its 21-year mining lease for the L-Channel deposit covering approximately 2,300 hectares.
The Ellendale diamond field is estimated to contain at least 1.3 million carats of gem-quality diamonds, including fancy yellow diamonds. IBDH is one of two companies – the other being Burgundy Diamond Mines - currently exploring diamond deposits in the region, which is located approximately 135km east of Derby in the West Kimberley.
Opened in 1976, Ellendale mine was at one point the world’s largest producer of fancy yellow diamonds and had an exclusive supply agreement with Tiffany & Co.
However, it ceased production in 2015 when previous owner Kimberley Diamond Company was placed in liquidation.
More reading
Burgundy Diamonds acquires 350 carats of Ellendale yellow diamonds
Extremely rare ‘double diamond’ discovered in Ellendale
New focus on old diamond mine: Ellendale to get new lease of life
New owner for historic Australian diamond mine