Where Do Diamonds Come From?
Diamonds are the hardest naturally forming material on Earth, renowned for their beauty, strength, and durability. They have been known and hoarded by humans for thousands of years, and their names from the Greek word for invincible. Diamonds come from deep within the Earth’s crust, formed there by the incredible pressure and relatively manageable temperatures. They form beneath the continental crust, from pure carbon. This carbon may either come from exclusively non-organic sources, organic sources, or a blend of the two. Diamonds formed from inorganic carbon are called harzburgitic diamonds, while those formed from some amount of organic carbon are called eclogitic diamonds. Diamonds form at depths of around 90 miles (150km), over millions and millions of years. The temperature at which diamonds form is in the range of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (1100 Celsius) – too much hotter than this and the conditions are no longer suitable for their formation. Most diamonds are over a billion year
Diamonds are Odd! Of all the objects found on this earth nothing is as enigmatic, coveted, or as mysterious as the diamond. This stone represents love, luxury, security, and at times even a cure, a talisman, or a bad omen. So for your perusal here are a few odd facts, myths, and beliefs about diamonds. Diamond Origins in some ancient cultures; diamonds were believed to come from a place where snakes guarded a land full of diamonds that could only be retrieved by the bravest and purest of people. Ancient Greeks considered diamonds to be “splinters of stars fallen to Earth” or “teardrops of the Gods.” Diamonds in fact were first recorded in the country of India 3,000 years ago. Diamonds for Protection When diamonds were first discovered they were used as a talisman against poisoning and to ward off evil spirits. They were mostly set in idols of worship or worn by kings for protection. Since diamonds were known for their utter indestructibility, kings studded their leather breastplates wi
While geologists disagree as to exactly how diamonds are formed, they do agree that diamonds are formed entirely of carbon and that great heat and pressure were needed millions of years ago for that carbon to change into diamonds. This heat and pressure were believed to have existed in molten rock far below the earth’s surface w
Diamonds are formed completely from carbon. Extreme pressure and heat is applied to the diamond which transforms it into the wonderful gems that you see in the jewelry store. They are formed very deep below the surface of the earth and can not form naturally unless they are at least 100 miles below the surface of the earth. There are several different ways to mine diamonds from the Earth. Pipe mining involves retrieving diamonds after they have traveled to the Surface of the earth through volcanic pipes. Volcanic eruptions occur which carry diamonds towards the surface. This only happens when the eruptions occur far below the Earth’s Surface, and if the diamond stays in the lava too long it will burn up. Miners first search the lava that made it to the surface for diamonds, then they drill holes next to the lava pipes to recover the diamonds. Usually diamond miners find rock like kimberlite or lamproite that can carry diamonds and remove all of this type of rock from the mine shaft. Th
Index Number: AFR 01/011/2001 Date Published: 1 November 2001 This leaflet highlights the fact that whilst to many people, diamonds symbolise love, happiness or wealth, for many, they mean conflict, misery and poverty. In African countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, the profits from unregulated diamond trade are used to obtain weapons and fund armed conflicts. As a result, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, raped, mutilated or abducted.
