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 "Hardest Substance for the Softest Heart"
- Across 3.3 Billion Years and 4 Continents
The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to earth. It was even said by some that they were the tears of the Gods. Another legend has it that there was an inaccessible valley in Central Asia carpeted with diamonds. It was said to be 'patrolled by birds of prey in the air and guarded by snakes of murderous gaze on the ground.' The truth is, however, that the exact origin of diamonds is still something of a mystery, even to scientists and geologists.
- Diamond Formation
Even though the diamond is the hardest of all gemstones known to man, it is the simplest in composition. It is common carbon, like the graphite in a lead pencil, yet has a melting point of 6,900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is two and a half times greater than the melting point of steel. Billions of years ago, the elemental forces of heat and pressure miraculously transformed the carbon into diamond in the cauldron of boiling magma that lay deep below the surface of the earth. The volcanic mass in which this crystallization took place, then thrust upwards and broke through the earth's surface to cool in Kimberlite pipes. It is in these Kimberlite pipes that most diamonds are found today.
- Precious and Rare
Anything extremely rare is also precious. Diamonds, formed billions of years ago are rare in that only a few survived the hazardous journey from the depths of the earth to reach the earth's surface. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that even though diamond production has increased in recent years, it is estimated that as little as 350 tons have ever been mined in recorded history to date. Of diamonds mined today, only about 50% are judged to be of gem quality. Even fewer are large enough to be cut into diamonds that are much bigger that the head of a match.To recover the relatively small amount of both gem quality and industrial diamonds is not easy, even with today's technology. Approximately 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed from the average Kimberlite pipe in order to produce a one carat polished diamond of gem quality.
- The Most International of Gems
Before a diamond reaches a consumer as a piece of jewellery, it will probably touch at least four continents and the lives of hundreds of people. The expertise of many skilled and experienced craftsmen is necessary for the complicated process of extracting and finishing a diamond.Though diamonds were first mined in India over 2,800 years ago, the modern industry began with discoveries in South Africa in the late 19th century. Today, however, the top diamond producing countries, accounting for a little over 95% of the world's rough diamond supply, include Australia, Zaire, Botswana, Russia and South Africa.
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