Diamonds and Fine Jewelry

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.

• 80% of diamonds are not suitable for jewelry

• The youngest diamond is 900 million years old

• Approximately $8.5 billion worth of diamonds a year come from African countries.

• Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13.

• A rough diamond will lose 40% - 70% of its weight in the cutting process.

• An estimated 5 million people have access to appropriate healthcare globally thanks to revenues from diamonds.

In many cultures, diamonds are very valuable and precious. They have been a staple for wedding ceremonies, religious ceremonies, and other important occurrences throughout history. However, many sometimes people can get this precious stone confused with cubic zirconium. Here are a few ways to tell the difference between a diamond and cubic zirconium with an untrained eye.

First off, if a so-called diamond looks to clean or too perfect, it may be cubic zirconium. This is especially for internally flawless stone. You have to put into consideration that all things that are made natural have at least one flaw in them, no matter how small or big they are.

Another thing to check for is doubling. If you can look through the stone while it is face-up, magnified, and you can focus through the stone to the edges furthest away from you, and you can see two of each line, as if your vision was blurred, then it is more than likely cubic zirconium. It is best to clean the diamond first before checking. This may be helpful but remember, not all derivatives of diamond share doubling.

One last idea is to check for their facet edges and nature of the polish. Inspect the stone under a magnifying glass and check the facet edges. If they are a little too rounded over, then they are not real diamonds. Diamonds have crisp edges even when the facets are not so well polished.