One of the most rare and valued treasures of the earth, ever wonder where they come from?
Diamonds are formed deep in the earth's crust - hundreds of mile deep. Only there are the heat and pressure sufficient for carbon to crystallize as a diamond. Without sufficient heat or pressure, carbon crystallizes as graphite. That's correct, graphite and diamond have the same chemical composition - virtually pure carbon, but they have drastically different physical properties. One is soft and gray, useful but not valuable, the other is the hardest mineral on earth with enormous value potential.
Diamonds are brought to the surface through volcanic activity. Diamond is often found in a host rock called kimberlite. Kimberlite is often found in a vertical shaft and this formation is mined from the surface, spiraling down the pipe. This is an open pit mine. Some diamonds are founf in alluvial deposits. These are the result of millions of years of erosion on a kimberlite deposit and over time the diamonds are washed free of the host rock and washed downstream where they settle on the riverbed.
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