A diamond is reported to be many things. It's a girl's best friend, a light in darkness and a beautiful accessory for a gorgeous woman. Does that make a diamond also one of the most valuable gem stones found in the world? Most people would say yes.
Diamonds are believed to have been found originally in India as early as the 9th century. The diamonds mined in India were found in alluvial deposits, or mineral deposits along rivers and streams. However, the discovery of diamonds in the Cape Colony, a province of South Africa, in 1867 really began the diamond's rise to one of the most precious gemstones used today. They are used for many things, but most of us think of engagement, wedding rings, and other jewelry first.
Diamonds are currently mined in 25 countries and are a worldwide resource. There are three main types of mining used to extract diamonds, hard-rock mining, open pit mining and placer mining. Hard-rock mining involves tunneling underground to create rooms or stopes, which are accessed by a shaft. This method, like that used for coal, is dangerous to the individuals who make their livelihood in this manner.
Many men have died during tunnel collapses and through lack of air in underground tunnels trying to bring those precious stones to the surface. Open pit mining is used when diamonds are found near the surface at a location and involves scraping off a layer of sediment to reach the minerals underneath. Placer mining is also called sand bank mining and is the process used in India for the original diamonds, created through alluvial deposits. Placer mining is a specific form of open pit mining and uses water pressure and surface excavating equipment to get at the diamonds, rather than any type of tunneling.
Natural diamonds are the hardest known natural substance and are used as a cutting tool and also in situations where durability is required, including grinding, drilling and polishing activities. Gemstone diamonds, a small portion of the world's total number of diamonds, are used for jewelry. A gemstone's value is based on brilliance and clarity. Chicago engagement rings and wedding rings are among the beautiful diamond jewelry offered to that special woman in a man's life.
Man-made diamonds, meanwhile, are manufactured through several processes and are grouped based on what procedure created the gem. Man made diamonds are used in computers, lasers, radiation detection devices and semiconductors, among other things. In the past, diamonds have been used by tribes as currency for other desired items. In today's markets, dictators and rebels that have access to diamonds continue to use them for currency to help further their agendas.
In cultures going back hundreds of years, diamonds decorated the royal headpieces of kings and queens to show stature and importance. The present day Queen Elizabeth II, of England, had a ornate jewel-studded crown placed on her head at her coronation. The Crown Jewels are viewed by thousands of tourists every year. Today, the tradition is imitated with fake stones for the tiaras of young girls and brides for special occasions.
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