Diamond Mining

SECONDARY SOURCE

ALLUVIAL - Host rock is carried along ancient or modern waterways eventually
depositing diamonds in the river.

WET DIGGINGS -
Diamonds lie in loose gravel & sand. Excavated by panning (same as digging for Gold).

DRY DIGGINGS - Diamonds are found along traces of dried ancient waterways and also above existing rivers and

embankments.

BEACH & MARINE DEPOSITS - Diamonds buried beneath drifting sand. Excavated by moving sand with bulldozers, trucks, scrapers & giant earthmovers.

ELUVIAL - Host rock disintegrates or decomposes after carrying diamonds a short distance. Diamonds are deposited close to Primary Source.

OPEN-PIT MINING
Excavated by simple digging with a shovel or by sophisticated digging equipment.

Sorting the Diamonds
Sorting Diamonds

This is the final step in diamond recovery. While most of the previous work was carried out by machines, this step depends on human skill and judgment. Of all diamonds mined, only about 20% are of a quality that is suitable for cutting and polishing into gems. The other 80% have varied uses in

industry. Here, the sorter is separating the darker stones which are industrial diamonds from the white stones that will become brilliant gems.

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OTHER DIAMOND LEARNING
History of Diamonds | Diamond Mining | Cutting Diamonds | The 4 C's

Diamond Learning ...

History of Diamonds
Diamond Mining
Cutting Diamonds
The 4 C's