Rio Tinto’s diamond unit picked up pace in the first half of year 2010, ending June 30, churning a 77 percent increase (y-o-y) in gross sales revenues to $326 million. Net earnings increased to $34 million, from loss worth $56 million in the first half last year. Production increased 5 percent to 7.107 million carats. %% The company attributes this positive development to the firming of rough diamond prices and increase in demand especially from India and China and restocking by the supply chain. %% The company has complete ownership of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 percent in Diavik mine in Canada and 77.8 percent in Murowa mine in Zimbabwe.