What is Diamond

Where Formed and How Found

Diamond - What

If the label reads Diamond, is it real Diamond?

• Herkimer Diamond

• Matara Diamond• Matara Diamond

• Lab Created Diamond

Diamond - What

The FTC defines “Diamond” at 23.11 para. (a)

• A diamond is a natural mineral consisting

essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the

isometric system (singly refractive)isometric system (singly refractive)

• it is found in many colors.

• its hardness is 10;

• its specific gravity is approximately 3.52;

• it has a refractive index of 2.42.

Diamond - What

• (b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the

unqualified word "diamond" to describe or

identify any object or product not meeting the

requirements specified in the definition of requirements specified in the definition of

diamond provided above

• or which, though meeting such requirements,

has not been symmetrically fashioned with at

least seventeen (17) polished facets.

Diamond - What

Diamond is almost pure carbon

• some impurities formed inclusions which

diminish the clarity.

• other impurities give the diamond its color -• other impurities give the diamond its color -

boron 1 part per million colors diamond blue.

nitrogen colors it yellow

• Red, pink and brown are possibly caused by

defects in the crystal lattice (plastic deformation)

Diamond - What

Commonly used terms

• Natural - gemstone made by Mother Nature

• Natural rough – natural as it comes from the mine before it is cut and polishedmine before it is cut and polished

• Synthetic - made by man but has essentially the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gemstone

• Synthetic rough – synthetic as it comes from the lab before it is cut and polished

Diamond - What

• Simulant - looks like the Natural Gemstone but

does not have the same chemical, optical, and

physical properties

• Simulant rough – the simulant in rough form • Simulant rough – the simulant in rough form

before it is cut and polished

• Some dealers take no chances is describing

their product for sale

• E.g.

Diamond - What

NATURAL DIAMOND UNCUT DIAMOND

ROUGH DIAMOND GEM DIAMONDQuality Gems bvba

0.68ct Natural Rough Diamond “Mackle” $472

Diamond - Where

• Where does Diamond come from?

• Carbon forms in the isometric crystal system

under extreme temperature and pressure

• The right conditions exist at approx. 93 to 120 • The right conditions exist at approx. 93 to 120

miles beneath the earths surface, where the

diamonds crystallize and take shape –

cubes, octahedrons, dodecahedrons, and

mackles are the common crystal forms

Diamond - Where

• diamonds are brought to the surface by an explosive volcanic eruption in the mineral “kimberlite”

• The eruption ejects material, including • The eruption ejects material, including diamonds, over a wide area

• The molten rock (including diamonds) cools forming a “pipe” surrounded by a caldera

• The pipe of the Kimberley mine was economic down to 4500 feet below ground level

Diamond - Where

a diamond pipe

Diamond - Where

• The material in the pipe is considered the

primary source – the primary deposit

• Surface material weathers and erodes,

releasing the diamonds from the matrixreleasing the diamonds from the matrix

• Rain washes them into streams, streams into

rivers, and rivers into the sea

• River deposits (alluvial), sea bed/sea shore

deposits (maritime) are secondary deposits

Diamond - Where

• Not all diamonds make it to the sea. Some

come to rest at bends in the river, or

depressions in the river bed.

• The river may change its course or dry up• The river may change its course or dry up

• The diamonds get covered with the mud and

debris of millennia. This forms the overburden

which has to be removed to find diamonds• Diamond fields of India

Diamond - Where

• Diamonds were found in India, in alluvial

deposits, as early as 800 BCE

• The diamond pipes that spawned these

deposits have not been found. One theory is deposits have not been found. One theory is

that the pipes are buried under 1000 feet

thick sheets of volcanic mineral basalt

• However, a pipe was found and mined starting

in 1827 - the Majhgawan Mine (84000cts/yr)

Diamond - Where

• The diamond mine at Kollur in Golconda was

discovered in 1560 at a place where the

Kristna river cut a deep gorge through the rock

• Kollur mine, a few miles west of the historic • Kollur mine, a few miles west of the historic

city of Hyderabad, was the most famous

• The Golconda mines were the source of the

historic Koh-i-noor, Regent, Great Mogul, and

Tavernier Blue diamonds

Diamond - Where

• The first European allowed to visit the Kollur

diamond fields was Jean Baptiste Tavernier

• Tavernier reported approx 60,000 men,

women, and children working the depositswomen, and children working the deposits

• Tavernier made 6 trips, 4 to India. He brought

back to France several large diamonds, the

most important of which was the Tavernier

Blue – now known as the Hope Diamond

Diamond - Where

• 1722, Diamonds discovered in Brazil, in

alluvial deposits, just as the Indian diamond

production was declining.

• Some production still comes from alluvial • Some production still comes from alluvial

deposits in Brazil. Recent finds include a 79cts

triangular high quality pink (sales price extrapolated at $13.2 million)

• Since 1960, 51 diamond pipes have been

found in Mato Grosso/Bolivian border area possibly the source for the alluvial deposits

Diamond - Where

Diamonds in South Africa

• 1867 a 21.25cts crystal was found at the junction of the Orange and Vaal rivers, in South Africa – source was alluvial. No response

• 1869 an 83.5cts crystal found in the same area, • 1869 an 83.5cts crystal found in the same area, and exhibited to the Parliament. This caused a diamond rush

• 1870 diamonds found at Kimberley, Orange Free State

Diamond - Where

• The diamonds produced from the Kimberley

area were the first recognized as “in situ” from

a diamond pipe

• The diamond bearing mineral in the pipe, was • The diamond bearing mineral in the pipe, was

later named “Kimberlite” after the area

• Decomposition of kimberlite near the surface

(first 100 feet) makes it softer, more easily worked - “yellow ground”

Diamond - Where

Open Pit Phase: Yellow Ground – Blue Ground

On Average only 1 in every 200 kimberlitepipes contain gem-quality diamonds

Diamond - Where

• 1955 Diamonds found in Siberia (USSR)

• 1966 DeBeers geologist Gavin Lamont

explores Botswana. Following ideas of a

Government geologist Chris Jennings. He finds Government geologist Chris Jennings. He finds

66 pipes in the Kalahari desert, but only has

development funds for one

• Botswana is now the largest diamond

producing country by value

Diamond - Where

• 1977 Diamonds found in Australia by

independent Rio Tinto at the craton’s edge, in

a mushroom shaped “pipe”, in “lamproite”

• The mushroom shape invites open pit mining• The mushroom shape invites open pit mining

• Australia is largest producer by weight

• The majority of diamonds produced, except

the “pinks”, are small, low quality, or brown

(marketed as “champagne” diamonds)

Diamond - Where

• 1990 diamonds found in the Barrens, North West Territories in Canada

• BHP Billiton staked the discovery claim which resulted in the Ekati Mineresulted in the Ekati Mine

• Aber Resources’ claim was the third ground staked (piggy-backing on the BHPB claim) resulting in the second mine, the Diavik Mine. Story of its start-up and geologist Eira Thomas told in “Diamond” by Matthew Hart

Diamond - Where

There are diamonds in the USA

• Prairie Creek, near Murfreesboro, Arkansas

now Crater of Diamonds State Park

• Sporadic production from an area in northern • Sporadic production from an area in northern

Colorado close to Wyoming border

• 1000 or more diamonds found in California

associated with prospecting and production of

gold - diamond shards found in sluice boxes

Diamonds - How

• Modern diamond mines have been discovered

by prospecting geologists using space age

technologies (MAD) as well as pick and shovel

(stream sampling)(stream sampling)

• Diamonds are formed in conjunction with

other minerals. These other minerals are

referred to as “indicator stones”

Diamonds - How

In Canadian kimberlite, these indicators are:

• Chrome Pyrope

• Chrome Diopside

• Chrome Spinel• Chrome Spinel

• Chromite

• Pyro-Ilmenite

• Micro Diamonds

Diamonds - How

• To find diamonds, the prospectors look for the indicator stone in streams and gravels by taking samples that are sent to the lab for identification

• The locations of positive samples are plotted to indicate the general direction of the pipe from which they may have come

• The location of the pipe is identified by magnetic anomaly detection (MAD)

Diamonds - How

Stream Sampling NWT

Diamonds - How

Magnetic Survey NWT

Diamonds - How

• When the location of the pipe is identified, a drill is brought up to drill core samples, which are logged and then sent to the lab for analysis

• If the indications are positive, large samples must be taken to estimate the yield (carats per tonne) and the quality of the diamonds

• If commercially viable, the mine will be put into production

Diamonds - How

Drilling the Drill Core Samples NWT

Diamonds - How

Logging Drill Core Samples NWT

Diamonds - How

Summer in the Barrens

The Diavek Mine

Diamonds - How

Winter in the Barrens

The Diavek Mine

Diamonds - How

Kimberlite Extraction – Open Pit

Diamonds - How

Heavy Equipment for Drilling and

Blasting Underground NWT

Diamonds - How

Facilities to Support Open Pit

and Underground Operations

Diamonds – The Reward

Alluvial Diamonds from Africa

Diamonds – The Reward

• The Lesotho Promise, a 603 cts (121 g) rough

diamond of exceptional color was unearthed

on 22 August 2006 at the Letseng Diamond

Mine in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Mine in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

Announced on the 4th of October 2006, it is

the largest reported find this century and the

15th largest diamond ever found. The stone is

rated ‘D’, the top color grade for diamonds.

Diamonds – The Reward

Lesotho Promise 603cts ‘D’ Color

Diamonds – The Reward

• In July 2007 the finished stones were unveiled.

The largest gem cut from the crystal is a

75 carats pear-shaped diamond, and the

smallest is a 0.55 carats round brilliant. In all, smallest is a 0.55 carats round brilliant. In all,

twenty-six stones were fashioned from the

rough gem, figuring as seven pear shapes, four

emerald cuts, thirteen round brilliants and

one heart shape. The finished gems total

224 carats (a yield of 37%)

Diamonds – The Reward