The Valuable Stone

Diamonds are forever - so was stated by James Bond and accepted as truth by all women the world over. Mining for diamonds traces its roots to 800 B.C. in India. Smart mine owners of yesterday spread a myth that diamonds are poisonous; this prevented theft by miners through swallowing diamonds and taking them out of the mine. Initially, diamonds were seen as a talisman to ward off evil and also as a good luck charm.

The formation of a diamond, a transparent form of pure carbon, takes billions of years and takes place under great heat and pressure well below sea level. In fact, each diamond is around three billion years old. Because diamonds crystallize at such high pressures, they are created deep within the earth, up to 200 kilometers.

They come to the surface of the earth along with the hot magna shot out by volcanoes. The oldest part of the continent is the place where they are generally found. Diamonds may as well be found in areas where Red Garnets are found. This is because the Garnet also goes through a similar process to be formed.

Diamonds originate from other places too. Plate tectonics cause collisions between continents that bring pieces of earth's crust up to the surface and, as a result, diamonds. Also, meteor impacts create great pressure and diamonds. Diamonds are strong and unbreakable, the hardest mineral around, hence their name which derives from the Greek: "unconquerable".

A beautiful one-carat diamond comes from 250 tons of ore that has been mined and processed. Today, around 25 countries supply the world with diamonds, with the majority coming from Africa, Russia, Australia, and Canada. South Africa is a great source of luxury diamonds.

Mining for Diamonds

Diamonds may be found in different places and different forms. Some of the likely places where diamonds may be found are:

- Along traces of dried ancient waterways and present rivers (dry diggings)
- In sand and gravel (wet digging)
- Beach and marine deposits
- Open pit mining

Diamonds are extensively used in all walks of life and industry. While about 20 percent of mined diamonds are used in jewelry, the rest are used in the industry. Some industrial uses are as drill bits and cutting tools, in machinery, mineral services, stone and ceramic products, abrasives, construction, and transportation equipment. The diamond is truly a possession that lasts forever.

Submitted by Mandes Dosdia, www.reeds.com