The world’s largest diamond mines

Historically, diamonds have symbolized prestige and affluence. They have adorned royal crowns and regal jewelry over the centuries. Nevertheless, only around one-fifth of the diamonds extracted worldwide qualify as gem-grade, making them suitable for jewelry use. The majority, approximately 80%, have industrial applications because of their unmatched hardness, making them ideal for cutting and grinding tools.

Diamonds are mainly discovered within kimberlite pipes, which are specialized volcanic rocks formed from rare eruptions that bring these gemstones closer to the Earth's surface. These are then mined through various extraction procedures.

The high demand for these striking gemstones has led to the development of diamond mines worldwide, spanning from Russia to South Africa and beyond. In this gallery, we explore some of the biggest mines in the world and their total diamond deposits. Click on to discover them.

10. Mir diamond mine, Russia

The Mir deposit, or Mirny mine, is in Russia’s Yakutia region. It is operated by Russia's Alrosa, which is the world's largest diamond producer.

9. Lomonosov diamond mine, Russia

Situated in Arkhangelsk, Russia, the Lomonosov deposit is a notable hard rock diamond mine. It is owned by Alrosa and operated through PAO Severalmaz, its subsidiary.

The Arkhangelskaya pipe was discovered in 1980, and open-pit mining using traditional truck and shovel methods commenced in 2005. The mine includes six kimberlite pipes, with two others, the Arkhangelskaya and Karpinskogo-1, currently under development.

8. Venetia diamond mine, South Africa

The Venetia diamond mine is situated approximately 50 miles (80 km) from Musina in Limpopo Province, South Africa. De Beers is the owner, and it has been active since 1992.

It stands as the country’s largest diamond producer. The deposit holds over 92.4 million carats of diamond reserves.

7. Ekati diamond mine, Canada

During its developmental phase, mining activities targeted six surface mines such as Fox, Beartooth, Misery, Panda, Koala, and Koala North. Today, newer additions such as the Lynx, Mount Pigeon, and Sable mines are active open-pit mines, with Koala operating through underground methods.

6. Catoca diamond mine, Angola

The Catoca diamond mine, situated in Saurimo, Angola, is an open-pit operation. Located about 520 miles (840 km) east of Luanda, the mine has been active since 1993.

5. Orapa Mine, Botswana

The mine is co-owned by De Beers and the government of Botswana. The mine’s projected operational life extends until 2036, emphasizing its importance as a national resource.

4. Nyurba diamond mine, Russia

Nyurba is an open-pit diamond mine in Russia, owned by Alrosa and operational under the Nyurba mining and processing division. The site includes three deposits: the Nyurbinskaya Pipe, Botuobinskaya Pipe, and Maiskoye Kimberlite Body.

Mining takes place through open-pit methods, with current depths reaching 1,100 feet (345 m). The planned maximum depth extends to nearly 2,500 feet (more than 750 m). The total reserves are around 132.75 million carats, composed of proven and probable resources.

3. Udachny diamond mine, Russia

Mining at Udachnaya started with open-pit methods in 1971 and continued until 2016. Since then, underground mining techniques such as longhole retreat stopping have been employed to access residual deposits.

2. Jwaneng diamond mine, Botswana

The mine is located approximately 160 miles (257 km) southwest of Gaborone in Botswana. It is owned by the Debswana Diamond Company, which is a joint venture between De Beers and the government of Botswana.

Its substantial resource value makes it one of the most significant diamond sources in the world. It contributes to about 70% of Debswana’s overall revenue.

1. Aikhal diamond mine, Russia

The Aikhal pipe was mined openly until 1997, after which it shifted to underground extraction through the cut-and-fill method. The mine processes roughly 8 million tons (7.3 million tonnes) of ore each year, supplying valuable materials to Russia and various other countries worldwide.