The company attributed the increase in revenues to a rise in rough diamond prices.
For the first six months of 2013, Rio Tinto posted an operating profit of $5m from its diamond business, compared to a ?loss of $24m in the same period a year ago.
Rio Tinto’s diamond business comprises Argyle mine in ?Australia, a 60% inrterest in the Diavik mine in Canada and a 78% stake in the ?Murowa mine in Zimbabwe.
During the first half of 2013, ?Rio Tinto Group’s consolidated sales were down 3% to $24.51bn, while its earnings plunged 71% to $1.7bn.?
