Diamond
Diamond is an extraordinary mineral with extreme hardness and inherent beauty that is sought for personal adornment and industrial use. Because the genesis of this unique mineral requires extreme temperature and pressure, natural diamond is so rare that some diamonds are the most valuable commodity on Earth, based on weight.
Type
Mineral
Mineral Classification
Native element
Chemical Formula
C
Streak
Colorless
Mohs Hardness
10
Crystal System
Isometric
Color
Typically yellow, brown or gray to colorless. Less often blue, green, black, translucent white, pink, violet, orange, purple and red.
Luster
Adamantine
Fracture
Conchoidal
Description
Diamond is an extraordinary mineral with extreme hardness and inherent beauty that is sought for personal adornment and industrial use. Because the genesis of this unique mineral requires extreme temperature and pressure, natural diamond is so rare that some diamonds are the most valuable commodity on Earth, based on weight.
Relation to Mining
Natural diamond has been discovered in 35 countries. Some diamonds have been found in the United States. Colorado, for instance, has produced a small number of diamonds.
The following countries produce industrial grade diamonds: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, China, Congo, Russia and South Africa.
Geologically speaking, natural diamonds are found in two environments. Most are found in kimberlites, which are pipe-like formations created as a result of volcanic and tectonic activity.
The second geological source for diamonds is placer deposits. The diamonds are easily weathered out of their kimberlite host rock and are washed away by streams and rivers. When these streams slow down, the diamonds are deposited in the stream sands in what are called placer deposits.
(IMAR 7th Edition)
Open-pit diamond mines are typically designed to recover as little as 100,000 to more than 10 Mt of ore per year. Annual diamond production may range from several thousand carats to a few million carats. For example, the Finsch mine in South Africa, produced about 5 million carats annually between 1981 and 1991, whereas annual diamond production for the extremely rich Argyle lamproite reached a record 39 million carats during the height of operation.
Fewer than 30% of diamond mines are underground. The diamond ore must be of relatively high value, because the cost of underground mining is considerably higher and the amount of ore recovered is considerably lower. Some mines in South Africa reach depths of over 4 kilometers. Open pits may have mine lives of 2 to 50 years. Synthetic diamond accounts for the majority of industrial diamond consumption. The process of creating man made diamonds allows the removal of impurities and produces a product with consistent physical properties.
Uses
Because it is the hardest substance known, diamond will cut through any material. Consequently, it is used as an abrasive and in cutting and grinding applications. Industrial diamonds are embedded in large steel drill bits to drill into rock for wells to find water, oil, and natural gas. It is also important in the manufacture of machinery for drilling and cutting metal machine parts.
The United States is by far the world’s largest consumer and market for industrial diamonds. It is predicted that the U.S. will lead the world in diamond consumption well into the 21st century.
