How Diamonds Are Mined
In order to learn how diamonds are mined, we have to know how they are made. Diamonds are solely made of carbon. Pressure and temperature are the factors that “change” the diamond from carbon into the diamonds that you see today. After millions of years constantly going through pressure and heat, the stones are settled in diamond-bearing rock and from there, then patiently wait for a volcanic eruption to bring them to the surface. This is how diamonds are created. Now, how are they mined?
There are two ways to how diamonds are mined; they are mined by: pipe mining and alluvial mining. As for pipe mining, when an eruption happens, other materials are brought up the lava. If the eruption happens far enough into the earth’s surface, it could contain diamond-bearing rock. These eruptions move very rapidly, and if the diamonds remain in the magma for a long time, they could eventually burn up or turn to graphite. From here, they conduct open mining, where the surface remnants are inspected for diamonds. After this occurs, large shafts are lodged into the ground next to the volcanic pipes and more diamond-bearing rock is recovered. After this, they end up being screened by separating soil from diamonds.
Alluvial mining happens when after an eruption occurs; some of the diamond bearing rock is removed and this is found settling in ocean beaches and river beds. For it to remove the rock from these areas, the water must be shoved aside to get to the bottom of the ocean or river. Usually a wall of mud and stone is built. From there, the miners use bulldozers or pumps to bring the rock to the surface. It is then taken to a screening plant where the soil and silt can be separated from the rough diamonds.
Diamonds are found by these processes. From the beneath the earth’s surface all the way to the diamond engagement ring you gave your future wife to be, diamonds definitely come a long way.