#diamondminingprocess

Just like other extraction processes the diamond extraction process affects the environment negatively in many ways such as:

Greenhouse gases are produced due to the machinery used.

Water is being contaminated. When miners dump toxins into nearby bodies of water it contaminates any useful water.

Soil erosion (when the topsoil is removed faster than it naturally should be),

Loss of habitat for wildlife because of all the land used.

Like many other MNC’s, diamond companies try to find the cheapest way possible to get resources and create profit, but what better way than forced/cheap labor. Since artisanal mining is the cheapest form of mining among the different types, it is the most commonly used; but what does that mean for consumers?

Diamonds are found underneath the earths surface. Which means in order to get to them, mining must take place. There are 4 types of diamond mining.

Once the diamonds are extracted they are sent to sorting where the diamonds are separated from the waste rock, it can be done by crushing Kimberlite, which the diamond is found in or grease belts where diamonds are put on a belt covered in petroleum jelly and separated from unwanted materials because diamonds are attracted to grease. Another way of separating the diamonds from the kimberlite is creating a solution of kimberlite and water which is then put into a pan. The lighter materials will rise to the top and the heavy materials (diamonds,rocks) will sink to the bottom. Once all the diamonds needed are retrieved they are sent to diamond industries where each diamond is separated by colour, shape,etc. There are 5000 different categories of diamonds.