Ellendale Diamond Field

High value fancy yellow diamonds are a signature of the Ellendale Diamond Field.
Between 2009 and 2015, Tiffany & Co had exclusive rights to purchase 100% of the fancy yellow diamonds produced at Ellendale.
Ellendale fancy yellow diamonds are typically highly lustrous and shiny surfaced.
Many of the Ellendale diamonds have undergone a process called resorption, resulting in the loss of more than 50% of their original weight.
The diamonds are often rounded tetrahexahedroids or dodecahedra.

History of the Ellendale Field

The Ellendale Diamond Field was discovered in November 1976 by a group of companies known as the Ashton Joint Venture.
The focus shifted away from Ellendale to the Argyle diamond mine in 1979.
Geologists from the Kimberley Diamond Company (KDC) later recognized diamond enrichment over the Ellendale pipes.
After a legal battle, KDC obtained the Ellendale mining lease from the Ashton Joint Venture.
The development of the Ellendale deposits was left in limbo for more than two decades.

Hard rock mining began at the Ellendale 9 (E9) pipe in May 2002.
Mining at E9 continued under various owners until mid-2015.
Diamonds were first discovered at the Ellendale 4 pipe, but mining started at E9.
E9 is located approximately 15km northwest of E4.
E9 mining operations ceased in 2015 when Kimberley Diamond Company entered into administration.

Mining operations at the E4 pipe began in 2005.
The E4 mine was put on care and maintenance in 2009 due to economic factors.
High Australian dollar and dwindling reserves made the E4 pipe uneconomic.
E4 is located in the Ellendale Diamond Field.
Mining activities at E4 ceased in July 2015 when Kimberley Diamond Company entered into liquidation.

Mining activities at the E9 and E4 hard rock mines abruptly ceased in July 2015.
Kimberley Diamond Company entered into administration and subsequent liquidation.
The E9 and E4 mine pits were declared abandoned mine sites in December 2015.
The Western Australia Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012 governed the declaration of the abandoned mine sites.
The future re-opening of the collapsed and flooded hard rock pits is being studied.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/ellendale-diamond-field
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellendale_Diamond_Field
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106310819
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