Diamond production at Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. of Canada for the third quarter of 2008 amounted to 2.321 million carats, a 25 percent dip over last year’s third quarter, as reported by Rapaport.

Of its new ventures in mining which the company has indulged into, is a new underground mine on which around 10 kilometres of tunnelling work has been completed and the underground mining is likely to begin in 2009. Upon the underground mining beginning, the company is hopeful of replacing open pit mining by 2012 and that the underground mine will support its Diavik’s mine life beyond 2020. Also amongst the other ongoing works, the company is undertaking surface work on the new crusher and past backfill plants, expanded electrical generating and water treatment facilities, mine change rooms and additional permanent accommodations.

The total diamond production for all three quarters in 2008 was at 6.628 million carats, falling by 26 percent from the respective nine months of 2007.