The diamond is the hardest natural substance known. It is found in a type of igneous rock known as kimberlite. The diamond itself is essentially a chain of carbon atoms that have crystallized. The stone's unique hardness is a result of the densely concentrated nature of the carbon chains. Like other igneous rocks, kimberlite was formed over the course of thousands of years by volcanic action that occurred during the formation of the earth's crust. It is thought that diamonds were first discovered in India about 6,000 years ago in the riverbeds of the region. India was the only known source of the rocks for over a thousand years, until they were unearthed in Borneo around A.D. 600. During the Middle Ages, the diamond was overshadowed by some of the more colorful gems like the ruby and emerald. In the 18th century, diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil in small quantities, and later in Australia, Russia, and the United States. Block caving is the most commonly used method in excavating diamonds from kimberlite deposits. This method offers the highest yield and thus is the most cost effective. In the crushing operation, which occurs in the below-ground mining facilities, large chunks of kimberlite are broken up into more easily transportable segments. Diamonds will continue to be used in industry and hightechnology enterprises, but synthetically produced facsimiles--first manufactured in 1953--may accomplish some of the tasks originally the exclusive province of the real stone. These ""manufactured"" gems have the same properties of hardness and durability, and while they will never be as popular as the real diamond for adomment purposes, they are well suited for industrial applications.This book provides comprehensive overview on origin, exploration, and history of diamond.

Effective development of artisanal diamond mining communities must be based on a thorough understanding of the inherent complexities that characterise the sector. This research coordinated by the Egmont Institute and undertaken in support of the KPCS Working Group on Alluvial/Artisanal Producers (currently chaired by Angola), involved many of the leading thinkers in this field. It makes a significant contribution to our knowledge on the sector, laying the foundations for a concerted work programme. This study does not underestimate the challenges this sector poses. However, it emphasises the critical importance of this task because the integrity of the KPCS and all it stands for are dependent upon addressing the developmental dimensions of the diamond trade not just policing it.

Written for geologists and diamond prospectors, this guidebook provides a general overview of diamond exploration and exploitation. The text covers how to find, recognize, and evaluate the potential of diamond deposits. As examples, the book reviews the history of some important diamond discoveries in Russia and the western United States. Much of the book is focused on geology of common diamond host rocks, including kimberlite and lamproite. In addition, it reviews the occurrence of some of the more unconventional host rocks that have produced some notable diamond discoveries. The material found in diamond deposits provides a foundation for discussing some of the most fundamental problems of theoretical geology, such as the timing of geological events and the development of cratonic areas. The authors are both experienced geologists who bring years of field experience to their writing. This resource provides a comprehensive look at the geology of diamonds, including historical data, crystal structure, and methods of exploration.

Diamond is the record-setter in many mineralogical properties such as hardness, diffusivity, thermal conductivity, purity, and covalency of bonding. Similarly, diamond, as the premier gemstone of the mantle holds primacy for geological features such as age and depth of origin. Diamond was among the first crystalline structures to be solved by X-ray diffraction and the first materials measured for their Raman spectrum. At more than 80 billion USD in yearly commercial value, diamond sets the record for the most traded, valuable mineral on the planet. Despite its chemical simplicity, diamond has been the object of more research effort, and had more scientific and popular press pages written about it, than any other mineral.

A sweeping history of our enduring passion for diamonds—and the exploitative industry that fuels it. Blood, Sweat and Earth is a hard-hitting historical exposé of the diamond industry, focusing on the exploitation of workers and the environment, the monopolization of uncut diamonds, and how little this has changed over time. It describes the use of forced labor and political oppression by Indian sultans, Portuguese colonizers in Brazil, and Western industrialists in many parts of Africa—as well as the hoarding of diamonds to maintain high prices, from the English East India Company to De Beers. While recent discoveries of diamond deposits in Siberia, Canada, and Australia have brought an end to monopolization, the book shows that advances in the production of synthetic diamonds have not yet been able to eradicate the exploitation caused by the world’s unquenchable thirst for sparkle.