ann out...diamonds confirmed..huge news, page-16

The mining operations ceased in 2003, having produced 507,000 carats of diamonds.

During its short operational life the Merlin project was renowned for the production of top quality white diamond and large specials, the largest being 104.73 carats. The company acquired 100% of Mining Lease 1154 (encompassing the former Merlin Diamond Mine) from Ashton Mining (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group) in 2004.


As we have previously highlighted, NAD is part of an extremely rare species known as an Australian diamond company. By our count, Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine and the Ellendale operation of the former ASX-listed Kimberley Diamonds, are the country’s only commercially significant producers of diamonds.