| Diamonds are useful and beautiful stones that | | | | screening plants. |
| undergo a complicated process before being used | | | | Of all the diamonds mined in the world each year, |
| in a variety of applications, most commonly | | | | less than half are gem quality, which are used in |
| known would that of the jewelry-making business. | | | | jewelry making and display a high standard of |
| While there are now laboratories that create | | | | excellence, usually with a clarity grading of flawless |
| synthetic diamonds in a span of a few days, it is | | | | to near invisible inclusions. |
| the formation and production of natural diamonds | | | | The rest that are recovered are either near-gem |
| that require very specific conditions. | | | | quality or industrial quality diamonds. Near-gem |
| Diamonds formed through natural circumstances | | | | quality diamonds can either be used to jewelry or |
| are exposed to extremes in high pressure of | | | | industrial applications, depending on the actual |
| about 45 to 60 kilobars and to comparatively low | | | | stone. |
| temperatures of about 900 to 1900 °C. | | | | As for industrial quality diamonds, these are |
| These rough stones are mined or recovered | | | | usually of low quality or have a lot of blemishes |
| through either pipe or alluvial mining. | | | | and inclusions, and are usually used as drill bits and |
| Pipe mining refers to the extraction process found | | | | for cutting purposes. |
| in volcanic pipes. In most locations, a pipe mine is | | | | All the diamonds recovered from mining will |
| composed of kimberlite, which is dug from the | | | | undergo a cutting and polishing process to obtain |
| surface of pipes in rough opencast mining. | | | | their final form, as we know it. |
| Once these are exhausted, the diamond miners | | | | Although technology has played an important role |
| start digging tunnels into the deeper parts of the | | | | in perfecting these techniques, cutting and polishing |
| pipes. The rocks recovered, which contain rough | | | | diamonds has its origins in India, where it was |
| diamonds, are then moved to a screening plant | | | | discovered by Indian lapidaries that a diamond can |
| where the rock bits are separated from the | | | | be made to sparkle and be smooth simply by |
| diamond bits. | | | | grinding it against another diamond. |
| It typically takes an average of 250 tons of pipes | | | | Nowadays, even with the use of machinery, |
| to produce a one-carat gem quality polished gem. | | | | diamond cutting and polishing can take anywhere |
| Allluvial mining, on the other hand, is located on | | | | from several hours to several months to |
| riverbeds or ocean beaches. When diamonds | | | | complete. Some diamonds, especially gem-quality |
| were formed in pipes deep inside the earth millions | | | | stones, are studied for months, even years, |
| of years ago, some of these separated and was | | | | before the cutting and polishing process begins. |
| carried out along the rivers and oceans. | | | | Each stone is different, and must be carefully |
| In order to mine these diamonds, a wall is built to | | | | studied and marked for cutting. That is why only |
| hold back the surf or water. Up to 25 meters of | | | | experts commit to this process, as a diamond's |
| sand and rock can be bulldozed to reach the | | | | ultimate price and value may plummet due to a |
| diamond-bearing level. | | | | poor cut. |
| Once these are recovered or mined, the | | | | A diamond can usually stand to lose half of its |
| diamond-bearing earth is transported to the | | | | original weight after this final process. |