Diamond
Diamonds are one of the world's most precious and beautiful gemstones. Natural diamonds are made of 100% carbon. The creation of a natural diamond requires certain conditions to occur within the earth’s mantle. The earth's mantle temperatures can rise to 2,000 degrees fahrenheit and the pressure can elevate to 725,00 per square inch. When these conditions are met, graphite is modified on an atomic level causing them to reform into a pure carbon gem, better known as a diamond.
Diamonds are transported to surface levels by volcanic pipes from the earth’s mantle. Once diamonds are brought to surface levels, they are mined. The methods of mining diamonds are pipe mining, marine mining and alluvial mining.
Pipe mining is done in two different methods: open pit mining and underground mining.
Open pit mining
Open pit mining is when large holes are made in specific areas around the world. Once these holes are made, large amounts of ore and rock are transported from the site, from which diamonds can be extracted.
Underground mining
Underground mining is when tunnels are made in specific areas around the world. These tunnels are created by first going below surface level and then digging tunnels either vertically or horizontal depending on the location. Once this step is complete, the ore and rock are transported from the tunnels. The diamond extraction process can then begin.
Deep sea mining uses two different methods: continuous line bucket system and hydraulic suction system.
Continuous bucket system
Continuous bucket system is executed by having a conveyor belt system where large amounts of mud are transferred from the ocean floor to surface levels. Once the diamonds are separated, the remaining materials are returned into the water.
The hydraulic suction system
The hydraulic suction system is executed by having two large pipes that are sent to the bottom of the sea, one of the pipes is used to collect and the other pipe is used to redeposit.
Alluvial mining is the process of collecting diamonds from the gravel layer of streams/rivers and on the ocean shore. This gravel layer is normally made up of mud , clay and underwater plant life. Companies normally build a wall to collect large amounts of gravel to be collected and then processed to find diamonds.
5 Stages of recovering diamonds from ore
Stage 1 Crushing:
Once diamond bearing ore is found it is brought to a primary crusher to break the ore down into smaller pieces , this allows the ore to be more manageable. The ore is crushed into pieces no bigger than 150mm if needed a secondary crusher is used ( roll crusher ) to get the ore into smaller pieces.
Stage 2 Scrubbing:
After being crushed the diamond ore is scrubbed to remove any excess debri, once that is done the diamond ore is then screened. Any pieces smaller than 1.5mm are discarded due to cost.
Stage 3 Cyclonic separation plant:
Water and ferrosilicon powder is mixed into a solution once it's at a certain density , the mixture and diamond ore are put into a cyclone that tumbles. The materials with the highest density sink to the bottom of the cyclone, and as a result, a layer rich in diamond concentrate is formed.
Stage 4 Recovery:
The diamond concentrate is now put through variousmagnetic susceptibility, X-ray luminescence and crystallographic laser fluorescence that are calculated based on the specific properties of diamonds.Each of these processes are calculated based on the specific properties of the diamonds. Once these processes are completed the rough diamonds are separated from other materials that could have been attached during the cyclon process.Once the diamonds are seperated a flash of light is emitted by the diamond and sends a signal to a microprocessor that fires a blast of air at the diamond, which spits it into a collection box.
Stage 5 Cleaning , Weighing and packaging:
Once the diamonds are collected they are cleaned in an acid solution before being washed. Each diamond is then weighed and packaged for transportation. Each package is sealed with a tamper resistant seal , giving a serial number and a certificate of origin for the diamond.
Each diamond is unique and special in its own way , no two diamonds are the same. Each diamond has different factors that contribute to its value. The GIA ( have a link to it ) was established in 1931 and gave us a global standard to value diamonds. The way GIA values diamonds is by the following : Color , Clarity , Cut and Carat , also known as the 4Cs. Having this grading system in place meant that customers could know the quality of diamond they were purchasing and also the global market would have a universal way to establish value to diamonds.
Color
For diamonds less is more , a perfect colored diamond has no color to it, this will allow more light to pass through and create more of the brilliant sparkle we love. Diamonds divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflects it back giving us the sparkle also known as fire.
The grading system we use to determine a diamond color is the D to Z grading system. D colored diamonds are completely colorless , as you go down the letters more color will be present in the diamond. Diamond grading D-E-F-G is very hard to tell by the naked eye but will have a big difference in quality and price.
Clarity
Since diamonds are created underground under certain conditions each diamond has its own set of unique characteristics, these internal characteristics are called inclusions. Inclusions happen naturally inside the diamond. Diamonds will also have blemishes , these imperfections occur on the surface of a diamond when it is being cut and polished. Both of these together affect the overall appearance of the diamond, while no diamond is %100 perfect the diamond with the highest value has close to no inclusions and no blemishes.
Diamond clarity is classed in the following way:
FL - Flawless These diamonds have no inclusions and no blemishes visible to a gemologist using 10x magnification.
IF - Internally Flawless These diamonds have no inclusions but they will have minute blemishes visible to a gemologist using 10x magnification.
VVS1 & VVS2 - Very very slightly included These diamonds have minute inclusions and blemishes that are extremely difficult for a gemologist to see using 10x magnification.
VS1 & VS2 - Very slightly included These diamonds have inclusions and blemishes that are hard for a gemologist to see using 10x magnification.
SI1 & SI2 These diamonds have inclusions and blemishes that are easy for a gemologist to see using 10x magnification.
I1 & I2 These diamonds have inclusions and blemishes that are completely visible for a gemologist to see using 10x magnification. The inclusions and blemishes may affect the fire of the diamond.
Cut
Coming soon!
Carat
Diamond carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond not the size. The carat weight is measured by the 100 point system , each 1 carat diamond representing 100 points. A half carat would be 50 points. If a diamond is over a carat , example 1.5 carat it would be 1 and 50 points.
When comparing diamonds of the same carat weight we must take into account the rest of the 4Cs ( name the 4Cs ). A smaller carat size with better color , clarity and cut will cost more than a larger diamond with worse attributes. A diamond with a better cut will have more fire ( shine ) than a larger diamond with an inferior cut.
