Diamond Mining
Sierra Leone is ranked the world's poorest country by the UN Human Development Index, with about 70% of its people living on less than 70p per day. Diamonds account for 94% of its exports. Sierra Leone gained the deserved reputation as "the most dangerous country on earth." Diamonds from these mines are called conflict diamonds, or blood diamonds. Blood diamonds were used to finance civil war. Several foreign journalists were killed here during the war.
African tribal war over nothing is more common than war over diamonds. Diamonds are a commodity. African nations benefit much from the diamond industry. It is true that "blood diamonds" did originate from Africa, but ever since the Kimberly Process was implemented blood diamonds from Africa have significantly decreased.
Sierra Leone diamonds are well-known among the jewelry world to be one of the best quality diamonds available today. Sierra Leone has thousands of subsistence miners like these men, scraping a living out of the ground. But for years, diamonds mined by the rebels have made the really big money an estimated 250 to 300 million dollars a year. Sierra Leone had a ban placed on it, which would block other countries from purchasing diamonds from that country in 2000. This ban however did allow the purchase of diamonds from specific government sanctioned Sierra Leone companies.
Industrial mining in secondary deposits utilizes large machines such as hydraulic shovels to reach diamond deposits. In marine littoral deposits, which fall under the category of secondary deposits, diamonds are mined along beaches and underwater. Industrial diamonds are also produced synthetically from graphite. Some synthetic diamonds conduct heat 50% more efficiently than natural diamonds and are five times greater in strength.
Kimberlite mining would be able to place more control on smuggling and production than the current alluvial methods. However, capital outlays for the development of a kimberlite mining operation are extensive. Kimberlites host the most common type of commercial diamond deposits. Approximately 12% of all known kimberlites contain diamonds, while only 2% contain economic quantities. Kimberlite pipes can lie directly underneath shallow lakes formed in the inactive volcanic calderas or craters.
Alluvial diamonds were washed down into the coastal area from older, inland terrestrial terraces, by ancient river systems over millions of years. The diamond deposits along the West Coast are estimated to be in excess of 1.5 billion carats, of which 90-95% are gem quality. Alluvial diamond mining is actually a sub-set of the ILO?s ?small-scale? The most appropriate term for this is artisanal mining. Alluvial diamond mining took place between 1983 and 1985, when the AK1 pipe came into production. Since then, this has been the principal source of ore, supported by lesser amounts of alluvial material.
Canada share of the world value of diamond production was 15 per cent in 2003, the third largest worldwide. These mines are all located in the northern regions of Canada, and hence contribute substantially to the growth of these regions. Canada was a key player in the development of diamond production, and since its inception on January 1, 2003, has been a leader to control the conflict diamond trade internationally. Canada passed legislation to control the import, export and transit of rough diamonds in Canada.
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