Diamond Mines

Above, the world's largest diamond mine in Mirny, Siberia.
Diamond mining is an interesting process. De Beers, the largest diamond dealer in the world, has mining plants in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Canada. While the former are run in a 50/50 split with the African governments, with the exception of South Africa, whose Ponahalo Investments is a black empowerment company and has a 26% share, the Canadian operations are the first outside Africa, and opened in 2007.

The Snap Lake Diamond Mine has an expected lifetime of about 20 years. It is located 140 miles outside Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The arctic conditions of this rugged outpost are perfect for the production of kimberlite, the stone in which diamonds are found. High pressure and temperatures in the earth’s core billions of years ago changed carbon into diamonds. Eruptions of kimberlite brought the diamonds to the earth’s surface millions of years ago. Kimberlite does leave traces of other minerals, which suggest the presence of diamonds, although not all kimberlite contains diamonds. These traces allow for the tracking of potential diamonds.

Today Canada is the third largest diamond district jewelers in the world. Technically, the stones are made into white gold diamond engagement rings elsewhere, but it all begins in these mines. If you’re looking for a closer diamond district jewelers, buy diamonds online at www.IDJewelry.com.
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