Pipe Mining
Pipe mining is the extraction of diamonds using volcanic pipes. Typically, a very large area has to be covered. An average of 250 tonnes of ore must be mined in order to produce a one-carat gem.
In most countries, a diamond pipe mine is composed of kimberlite. Initially kimberlite is dug from the surface of the pipes in opencast mining. Once the surface deposits have been exhausted, shafts are sunk into the ground at the edge of the pipes, and tunnels are driven into the deeper parts of the pipes. After the diamond-bearing rock is brought to the surface, it is then transported to a screening plant where the diamonds are separated from the host rock.
In most countries, a diamond pipe mine is composed of kimberlite. Initially kimberlite is dug from the surface of the pipes in opencast mining. Once the surface deposits have been exhausted, shafts are sunk into the ground at the edge of the pipes, and tunnels are driven into the deeper parts of the pipes. After the diamond-bearing rock is brought to the surface, it is then transported to a screening plant where the diamonds are separated from the host rock.
alluvial mining
This process involves the extraction of diamonds from riverbeds or ocean beaches. Millions of years ago, at the time the diamond pipes were formed, some diamonds were weathered out of the pipes and carried far distances along rivers.
In order to extract these diamonds from the rivers, a wall is built. Up to 25 metres of sand is bulldozed aside to reach the diamond-bearing level. Once reached, the diamond-bearing earth is removed and transported to screening plants.
In order to extract these diamonds from the rivers, a wall is built. Up to 25 metres of sand is bulldozed aside to reach the diamond-bearing level. Once reached, the diamond-bearing earth is removed and transported to screening plants.
Resources (this page)
- http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2cL29e5qVQ/TbHxMj_7o_I/AAAAAAAAAio/QZVQVGqZhQ0/s640/Mirny+Diamond+Mine.jpg
- http://groomr.wikispaces.com/file/view/KimberlitePipes.png/112182651/KimberlitePipes.png
- http://www.itbhuglobal.org/chronicle/604-2.png
- http://www.diamondenvy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/247wallst_diamond-mine.jpg
- http://www.costellos.com.au/diamonds/mining.html