Though your journey to find a natural diamond may start with an established online store or in a glass case lined with velvet, diamonds are actually mined from a much deeper source closer to earth. Approximately 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface, heat and pressure crystallize carbon into rough diamonds. So, how do these diamonds travel from the depths of the earth to your ring?
Diamonds are transported closer to the earth’s surface through a specific type of volcanic eruption known as the kimberlite eruption, which last occurred over 100 million years ago. Kimberlite, an igneous rock that contains diamonds, is usually found in vertical structures known as kimberlite pipes. Diamonds are extracted from these pipes through three methods: alluvial mining, pipe mining, and marine mining.
How are Diamonds Mined? Meet the 3 Different Methods
Alluvial mining involves the extraction of diamonds from riverbeds and beaches, where erosion over thousands of years has washed diamonds from their kimberlite pipes to these areas. Miners divert rivers or build walls to expose the dry, diamond-bearing beds. Initially, workers sifted through sand at the site, but advancements have led to more efficient processing using screening facilities.
The increase in global demand for diamonds led to the development of pipe mining, the most common modern-day method. Unlike alluvial mining, which relies on natural processes to transport diamonds, pipe mining directly targets the kimberlite pipes. Pipe mining can be done through open-pit or underground methods.
Open-pit mining focuses on diamonds found closer to the surface, where layers of sand and rock above the kimberlite are removed. Underground mining requires creating two parallel tunnels connected vertically. In the first tunnel, miners blast the kimberlite ore, which then falls into the second tunnel for collection.
Marine Diamond Mining
The third method, marine diamond mining, targets diamonds on the ocean floor. Initially, this method required a swimmer to gather gravel from shallow seabeds. Modern technology, however, has enabled deeper extraction. In horizontal marine diamond mining, a crawler sucks gravel from the ocean floor through flexible pipes, while vertical marine diamond mining employs a large, ship-mounted drill to retrieve the gravel.
Diamond Mine Locations
These mining techniques are practiced globally across diamond mines, which can be privately owned or government-sponsored. Some of the earliest diamonds were found in India during the 4th century BC. Following a decline in Indian mining, diamonds were discovered in Brazil in the 1720s, North America in the 1840s, and Africa in the 1860s. The discovery in Africa triggered the Great Diamond Rush and led to the establishment of the Kimberly Mine, the first large-scale diamond mining operation.
The Largest Diamond Mines
While Africa once dominated diamond production, contributing up to 90% of the global supply, it now accounts for less than 50%. According to the 2016 U.S. Geological Survey, Russia is the leading producer of gem-quality diamonds and is home to half of the largest diamond mines, followed by Botswana, Canada, Angola, and South Africa. However, the title of “world’s largest diamond mine” varies.
In 2016, diamond expert Ehud Arye Laniado identified the Orapa and Jwaneng diamond mines in Botswana and the Jubilee mine in Russia as the largest by reserve size. Alternatively, Paul Zimnisky named the Jwaneng mine, the Jubilee mine, and Russia’s International mine as the largest. Large, commercially viable diamond mines are rare, with about 20 major mines existing today.
The Kimberly Process and Conflict Diamonds
The scarcity of large diamond mines, combined with the significant labor and high value of diamonds, necessitates extra precautions for safe and ethical practices. To standardize mining and combat the sale of conflict diamonds—used to fund civil unrest or wars—the international community established the Kimberley Process in 2000. This policy, adopted by 74 governments, mandates a certificate for each mined rough diamond, promoting safe and ethical diamond mining.
Clearly, diamonds undergo a remarkable journey—from deep within the earth to the hardworking miners, jewelers, and retailers—before they reach you and your loved ones. To learn more about Artful Bracelets’s commitment to the Kimberley Process and conflict-free diamonds, click here.
