Man, I’ve been digging into this Diavik Diamond Mine thing, and let me tell you, it’s quite the operation up there in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Owned by Rio Tinto, it’s one of the big ones when it comes to diamonds.

So, first, I started by reading up on the basics. What is this place? Where is it? It turns out this mine is pretty significant, producing some serious bling. I learned that it’s not just about pulling rocks out of the ground; there’s a whole process to maximize the value of those rough stones.
Then I got curious about the people working there. What’s it like to work at a diamond mine? I found a bunch of employee reviews online, talking about everything from salaries to work-life balance. Seems like a mixed bag, but hey, that’s life, right? People were sharing their experiences, the good and the bad, about the culture and management. It gave me a better sense of the human side of the operation.
Next, I started looking into the salaries. It’s no secret that mining jobs can pay pretty well, and Diavik is no exception. I found some data on PayScale, which was super helpful. From what I gathered, the average salary for Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. employees in Canada is around C$85,000 a year in 2024. That’s some good money. And the average hourly pay is about C$38.55. Not too shabby at all.
But it’s not all about the money. I wanted to know more about the management and leadership. I read that Matthew Breen is taking over as the chief operating officer, succeeding Angela Biggs, who was the first woman to lead the mine. That’s pretty cool, seeing some changes at the top. And it’s interesting to see how these transitions happen, especially with the mine heading towards closure in early 2026.
Speaking of closure, that’s another big thing I looked into. It’s wild to think that this massive operation is going to shut down in about 18 months. They’ve been at it for almost a quarter of a century! But Rio Tinto seems keen on leaving a positive legacy, which is good to see.

I also found some salary trends for Rio Tinto employees in general. There were 821 salaries reported for 441 different jobs. It’s interesting to see how the numbers stack up across the company, not just at Diavik.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I looked into:
- Basic Info: Learned about the Diavik Diamond Mine’s significance and operations.
- Employee Reviews: Got the inside scoop on what it’s like to work there, the culture, management, and overall vibe.
- Salaries: Checked out the average annual and hourly pay for employees, which is pretty decent.
- Leadership Changes: Found out about the new COO and the transition as the mine heads towards closure.
- Closure Plans: Read about the upcoming closure in 2026 and Rio Tinto’s plans for a positive legacy.
- Rio Tinto Salaries: Looked at salary trends across Rio Tinto, not just at the Diavik mine.
All in all, it’s been a fascinating deep dive into the Diavik Diamond Mine. From the people working there to the big-picture stuff like salaries and closure plans, it’s a whole world of its own. I feel like I’ve got a much better understanding of what goes on up there and how it all fits into the bigger picture of Rio Tinto’s operations. Pretty cool stuff, if you ask me.