Interesting Facts About Diamond Mining
There are two things that have fascinated humans for ages - one is gold and the other is diamonds. Until the year 1871 when diamonds were discovered in the volcanic pipes in South Africa, the source of both these priceless substances was river beds. The diamonds found in South Africa (SA) were excellent in quality and size and based on the new discovery of diamond sources SA became famous as the largest bed for diamond mining in the world.
Today there are many other places where diamond mining is taking place such as Botswana, Australia, Canada and Russia among others; however none of these places can compete with South Africa on the quality or quantity of the diamond mining operations.
The mining process has the diamond removed from the kimberlite in the form of diamond ore, which is then transported by trucks to be processed and sorted according to its potential. The most common method of sorting the diamonds is the wash method. In this methods water is used to separate the light trashy matter from the heavy and valuable diamonds which usually sink in the washing pan.
Other methods using the density property of the diamond are the x-ray separator, the cones and cyclones method, the grease tables, and so on. After the machine has done its turn, separation is done by the hand and judgment of human beings. These people are trained to evaluate (grade) the unpolished diamond in matters of seconds.
What Are The Blood Diamond Mining?
You must have the term blood diamonds off and on and you must be wondering whether this refers to some type of rare red diamond. While red diamonds do exist, the term of 'blood diamond' is definitely not referring to that.
Some of the major diamond mining operations in Africa have been taken over by revolutionary militant groups who use these diamonds as a funding base for their weaponry and war armory. The diamonds which are used by these military groups for this particular purpose (war, destruction, killing) are known as blood diamonds.
There are many efforts underway to curb this market, which unfortunately has not been enough. In the year 2002 the UN (United Nations) bought the Kimberly Process which was and is meant to regulate the global diamond industry and discourage the selling of the blood diamonds. All legally sold diamonds are supposed to be certified and documented by Kimberly Process which enquires about their source of acquisition. In this manner, it is hoped that gradually the blood diamonds market would be isolated and eliminated.
Unfortunately, for every legal avenue for selling of diamonds there are three illegal ones and this is where and how the blood diamonds are still being channelized into the global market with ease. It would need a very concerted and focused global effort to short circuit such operations, more so when diamonds are not only priceless, but also an excellent choice of investment.
