Williamson Diamonds Limited — brilliant cut diamond
MWADUI DIAMOND MINE · SHINYANGA, TANZANIA · EST. 1940

Williamson
Diamonds Limited

Eighty-six years of continuous production from the world's largest economically exploitable kimberlite pipe — and the source of the rarest pink diamonds on earth.

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86Years Operating
19M+Carats Produced
140mOpen-Pit Depth
Overview

The Mine that Gave the World
its Rarest Pink Diamonds

The Williamson Diamond Mine — also known as the Mwadui Mine — sits 23km northeast of Shinyanga. Discovered in March 1940 by Dr. John Williamson, it became the first significant diamond mine outside South Africa, and has operated continuously ever since.

The mine is famed worldwide for its rare pink diamonds, including the legendary 54.5-carat rough stone discovered in 1947 — later cut to 23.6 carats and presented to Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift. As of 2025, the operation is 100% Tanzanian-owned, under Pink Diamonds Investments Limited, an affiliate of Taifa Group.

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0Carats Produced
0Employees
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Williamson Diamonds Mine overview
Mwadui Kimberlite Pipe
ha
Kimberlite Pipe Area
m
Current Pit Depth
100%
Tanzanian Owned
Affiliated With
Partner STAMICO Partner
Operations

From Ore to Rare Stone

Four stages turn kimberlite rock into the world's rarest diamonds — engineered for consistency, recovery, and responsibility.

Ore Extraction

Efficient Open-Pit Mining

Mining begins with controlled drilling and blasting to access the kimberlite ore body. Blasted material is loaded and hauled by heavy-duty equipment to the processing plant, ensuring a steady supply of ore for continuous production.

Controlled drilling and blasting
Efficient loading and hauling systems
Continuous ore supply to plant
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Ore extraction
Material Preparation

Advanced Ore Processing

Extracted ore is crushed, screened, scrubbed and milled — reducing material size and preparing it for diamond recovery, with modern plant systems ensuring consistency and minimal loss.

Crushing and jaw processing
Screening and scrubbing systems
Milling and material preparation
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Processing plant
Diamond Extraction

Precision Diamond Recovery

Material passes through Dense Media Separation, then X-ray sorting systems identify and recover diamonds — maximizing the yield of both standard and rare high-value stones.

Dense Media Separation (DMS)
X-ray diamond sorting
Final recovery and sorting
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Diamond recovery
Responsible Mining

Sustainable Operations

Waste is managed through engineered tailings storage, and process water is recycled to reduce environmental impact — sustainability built into every stage of operation.

Tailings storage management
Water recycling systems
Environmental protection practices
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Sustainability
Sustainability

Beyond Operations — a Long-Term Commitment

At Williamson Diamonds Limited, sustainability is a long-term commitment to creating value while protecting the environment, empowering communities, and ensuring responsible resource management at the Mwadui Diamond Mine.

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Sustainability at WDL