Diamond Mines Explained

Diamond mines are found all around the world in the form of rivers, seabeds, or land mines. The seabeds such as river and ocean seabeds are known as alluvials. Some mines are rivers, such as, the Rio Abaete in Minas Gerais, Brazil, or other seabeds such as, the Namibian coast in Namibia and the rivers from Angola to South Africa. The land mines are present in almost all continents except Europe and Antarctica. The largest numbers of gems or diamonds are found in these land mines. The largest mine in the world is located in Western Australia. These are known by the name of the Argyle Mines.

The diamonds are usually found in a rare type of volcano rock known as kimberlite. These rocks are named after Kimberley area in South Africa. In addition, diamonds can also be found in another rare rock known as lamporite. During the volcano eruptions, these rocks erupt and the gems are rapidly carried over to the surface of the land.

The process by which these diamonds are carried over to the earth's surface is extremely delicate and intriguing. These gems are carried to the surface in magma or molten rock. The problem is that if these gems cool slowly on their way up, then they can turn into graphite. Also any contact with oxygen during this process can cause the gemstones to become carbon di0oxide gas puffs. Therefore these diamonds are at great risk when they are carried to the earth's surface. If they survive this crucial journey, they are usually found in a rock fissure which can be carrot or pipe-shaped. During this process, some gems are washed away downstream and land up on the river and ocean beds.

When these gems are found by miners, they are still in their raw unpolished state. The next process is selling off these raw gems. Most of the gems are usually sold to DeBeers which is a diamond firm located in South Africa. DeBeers then decides on the prices of these rough gems and sells them to the eighty "sightholders" which are major diamond cutting firms. These are the only firms which are authorized to buy rough diamonds directly from DeBeers.

All the gems purchased from DeBeers are conflict free. This is due to the fact that DeBeers and World Diamond Council have created a system of international certification and controls from diamond mines to cutting centers around the world. World Diamond Council is a newly formed international body recognized by United Nations.

The Diamond mines are essentially very dangerous work sites for the miners. The workers are sent to search for kimberlite pipes which are basically found in volcano rocks which can erupt anytime. Therefore, these mining projects are capital intensive, long-term projects. All the decisions regarding the operations are made keeping in mind the interest of stakeholders and workers. The workers have to live in a site near Kimberly pipes for a stretch of six months and can leave the secure site after finishing of their search.

When the gems are found at the mines and sold to firms such as DeBeers, then the actual diamond production begins. DeBeers sends these gems to the diamond cutting centers around the world. These centers remove the roughs and polish the gems. After that, these gems are priced. Prices are usually set according to the size, clarity, carat, and cut of the diamond. A grading system is used to determine the price.

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