View source for Merlin diamond mine

{{short description|Former diamond mine in Northern Territory, Australia}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Merlin diamond mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia
| pushpin_label = Merlin diamond mine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|16.85|S|136.34|E|region:AU-NT|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place = [[Borroloola]]
| subdivision_type = [[States and territories of Australia|Territory]]
| state/province = [[Northern Territory]]
| country = Australia
| owner = [[North Australian Diamonds Limited]]
| official website = http://www.nadl.com.au/
| acquisition year =
| stock_code =
| products = [[Diamonds]]
| financial year = 
| amount =
| opening year = 2000
| closing year = 2003
}}

The '''Merlin diamond mine''' is one of only three diamond mines in Australia. The mine is located in the [[Northern Territory]] of Australia, about 80 kilometres south of [[Borroloola]]. The mine operated for a period of about three years from 2000 to mid-2003, during which time it produced about 500,000 [[Carat (unit)|carats]] (100&nbsp;kg) of high quality diamonds.

The Merlin mine has an unusually high proportion of gem-quality diamonds: 65% of production is gem-quality, and only 35% is classified as near-gem or industrial quality. This compares to a worldwide average of just 20% gem-quality diamond production at [[list of diamond mines|diamond mines]] worldwide, and a mere 5% gem-quality production at Australia's largest diamond mine, [[Argyle diamond mine]]. The high ratio of gem-quality diamonds is responsible for a relatively high value of $108 [[USD]] per carat (540 $/g). The known [[ore grade]] at Merlin is about 0.2 carats (40&nbsp;mg) per [[tonne]], although exploration continues under the mine's new owner. The largest diamond produced at the Merlin mine measured 104.73 carats (20.946 g), the largest ever found in Australia, and has been valued at over US$525,000 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120321164156/http://www.nadl.com.au/resources/i/docs/annual_reports/Striker_2004_ARpt.pdf].

The mine and mining rights were sold by [[Rio Tinto Group]], to [[Striker Resources]], which explored the possibility of reopening it [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404030736/http://www.miningnews.net/sectionstory.asp?sourceid=c11]. Striker has since become North Australian Diamonds [https://web.archive.org/web/20090410020753/http://www.nadl.com.au/], a company which operated the mine for a short period in 2006. Rio Tinto originally acquired the mining lease after a takeover of Ashton mining (November 2000) in which it also gained full control of the Argyle diamond mine. Ashton mining initially developed and operated the mine.

==References==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050613115554/http://www.mbendi.co.za/indy/ming/dmnd/au/au/p0005.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050109042701/http://www.minesite.com/archives/news_archive/2004/june-2004/striker030604.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050221155155/http://nlc.org.au/html/wht_lrn_2003_oct02.html
* http://www.nationalminingindustry.com.au/diamonds/au/archive/2009.htm{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

== External links ==
* [https://portal.ga.gov.au/deposit-report/minerals/merlin/336052 Merlin Deposit Summary Report]
* [https://portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn944 Merlin]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlin Diamond Mine}}
[[Category:Diamond mines in Australia]]
[[Category:Surface mines in Australia]]
[[Category:Former Rio Tinto (corporation) subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Mines in the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Companies based in the Northern Territory]]


{{NorthernTerritory-geo-stub}}