Where do Diamonds Come From?

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. This rock is then taken to a processing plant where it is checked for diamonds.

The other main type of diamond mining is alluvial mining. This is when diamonds are found in riverbeds and oceans. They have ended up there after many years of erosion. In order to find diamonds in the ocean miners must find a way to get to the ocean or river floor. Usually water retaining walls are built and then bulldozers or pumps collect the dirt which is checked at large processing plants. This is the same type of mining that was common during the US gold rush, except now instead of pans they use heavy machinery.

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