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| 1 | +title: Argyle Diamonds |
| 2 | +description: The historic Argyle mine - world's primary pink diamond source, closure in 2020, and impact on the diamond market. |
| 3 | +order: 6 |
| 4 | +category: origin |
| 5 | +subcategory: australia |
| 6 | +difficulty: advanced |
| 7 | +icon: gem |
| 8 | +related: |
| 9 | + - origin/australia/overview |
| 10 | + - species/diamond |
| 11 | +tags: |
| 12 | + - australia |
| 13 | + - diamond |
| 14 | + - argyle |
| 15 | + - pink-diamond |
| 16 | + - fancy-colour |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +sections: |
| 19 | + - title: Introduction |
| 20 | + content: | |
| 21 | + The Argyle mine in Western Australia was the world's primary source of |
| 22 | + pink diamonds, producing over 90% of global supply during its operation. |
| 23 | + Its closure in November 2020 marked the end of an era and has significant |
| 24 | + implications for the coloured diamond market. |
| 25 | +
|
| 26 | + - title: The Argyle Mine |
| 27 | + content: | |
| 28 | + History and significance: |
| 29 | + subsections: |
| 30 | + - title: Discovery & Operation |
| 31 | + content: | |
| 32 | + - **Discovery**: 1979 (diamond pipe identified) |
| 33 | + - **Production start**: 1983 |
| 34 | + - **Closure**: November 2020 |
| 35 | + - **Location**: East Kimberley region, Western Australia |
| 36 | + - **Operator**: Rio Tinto |
| 37 | + - **Type**: Lamproite volcanic pipe |
| 38 | +
|
| 39 | + - title: Production Profile |
| 40 | + content: | |
| 41 | + - **Total production**: Over 865 million carats (all colours) |
| 42 | + - **Annual peak**: Up to 40 million carats/year |
| 43 | + - **Pink diamonds**: ~90% of world supply |
| 44 | + - **Volume**: World's largest diamond mine by volume |
| 45 | + - **Quality**: Mostly industrial; fine gems rare |
| 46 | +
|
| 47 | + - title: Pink Diamond Production |
| 48 | + content: | |
| 49 | + Argyle's signature product: |
| 50 | + subsections: |
| 51 | + - title: Characteristics |
| 52 | + content: | |
| 53 | + - **Colour cause**: Structural deformation (not impurities) |
| 54 | + - **Range**: Light pink to deep purplish-pink |
| 55 | + - **Rarity**: Less than 0.1% of Argyle production |
| 56 | + - **Unique**: No other significant pink diamond source |
| 57 | +
|
| 58 | + - title: Grading System |
| 59 | + content: | |
| 60 | + Argyle developed its own colour grading: |
| 61 | + - **1-9 scale**: 1 being most saturated |
| 62 | + - **Colour descriptors**: Pink, Purplish Pink, Pink Rose, Pink Champagne |
| 63 | + - **Tender stones**: Finest pieces sold at exclusive annual tender |
| 64 | +
|
| 65 | + - title: Historic Source Closed |
| 66 | + callout: |
| 67 | + type: warning |
| 68 | + title: Finite Resource |
| 69 | + text: | |
| 70 | + The Argyle mine in Western Australia was the world's primary source |
| 71 | + of pink diamonds, producing over 90% of global supply. The mine |
| 72 | + closed in November 2020. |
| 73 | +
|
| 74 | + Argyle pink diamonds are now increasingly valuable as a finite |
| 75 | + resource. Provenance documentation adds significant premium. |
| 76 | +
|
| 77 | + - title: Other Argyle Colours |
| 78 | + content: | |
| 79 | + Beyond pink diamonds: |
| 80 | + subsections: |
| 81 | + - title: Champagne/Cognac |
| 82 | + content: | |
| 83 | + - Brown diamonds in various shades |
| 84 | + - Argyle created market for these colours |
| 85 | + - C1-C7 grading scale developed |
| 86 | + - More affordable fancy colour option |
| 87 | +
|
| 88 | + - title: Blue Diamonds |
| 89 | + content: | |
| 90 | + - Rare Argyle production |
| 91 | + - Type IIb (boron-coloured) |
| 92 | + - Extremely valuable |
| 93 | + - Very limited numbers |
| 94 | +
|
| 95 | + - title: Red Diamonds |
| 96 | + content: | |
| 97 | + - Rarest of all diamond colours |
| 98 | + - Saturated pink = red |
| 99 | + - Only a handful ever found |
| 100 | + - Museum and collector pieces |
| 101 | +
|
| 102 | + - title: Market Impact |
| 103 | + content: | |
| 104 | + Closure effects on diamond market: |
| 105 | + subsections: |
| 106 | + - title: Supply Implications |
| 107 | + content: | |
| 108 | + - No replacement source for pink diamonds |
| 109 | + - Existing stones become finite collectibles |
| 110 | + - Prices rising since closure |
| 111 | + - Investment demand increasing |
| 112 | +
|
| 113 | + - title: Provenance Value |
| 114 | + content: | |
| 115 | + - Argyle certification adds premium |
| 116 | + - Documentation of origin critical |
| 117 | + - Tender history most prestigious |
| 118 | + - Lot numbers traceable to mine records |
| 119 | +
|
| 120 | + - title: Future Outlook |
| 121 | + content: | |
| 122 | + - Pink diamond supply constrained indefinitely |
| 123 | + - Values expected to appreciate long-term |
| 124 | + - Synthetic pinks available but distinct market |
| 125 | + - Natural Argyle increasingly collectible |
| 126 | +
|
| 127 | + - title: Collecting Argyle Diamonds |
| 128 | + content: | |
| 129 | + Considerations for collectors: |
| 130 | +
|
| 131 | + - **Documentation**: Argyle certificate essential |
| 132 | + - **Grading**: Understand Argyle's unique system |
| 133 | + - **Investment grade**: 1-3 on Argyle scale |
| 134 | + - **Tender history**: Ultimate provenance |
| 135 | + - **Size**: Larger pinks exceptionally rare |
| 136 | + - **Matching**: Pairs/sets extremely valuable |
| 137 | +
|
| 138 | + - title: Other Australian Gems |
| 139 | + content: | |
| 140 | + Additional notable Australian production: |
| 141 | + table: |
| 142 | + headers: |
| 143 | + - Gem |
| 144 | + - Location |
| 145 | + - Notes |
| 146 | + rows: |
| 147 | + - ["Zircon", "Various", "Various colours; heat treatment common"] |
| 148 | + - ["Emerald", "New South Wales", "Limited production; Emmaville area"] |
| 149 | + - ["Topaz", "Various", "Blue, colourless; some imperial colours"] |
| 150 | + - ["Garnet", "Various", "Multiple species; commercial grade"] |
| 151 | + - ["Prehnite", "Western Australia", "Collectors; some gem quality"] |
| 152 | + - ["Jade (nephrite)", "South Australia", "Some production; black jade noted"] |
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