Crater of Diamonds State Park

You might find it quite surprising to learn there are diamond mines in Arkansas, let alone ones where you can keep anything you find. Until 2002, there was a commercial diamond mine on the borders of Colorado and Wyoming. Today there is only one diamond mine in the United States, and that is in Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro. Of all the state attractions, this is the only place where you can combine diamonds with trout fishing. This is the region known as the Diamond Lakes Region, with all the outdoor activities you might expect of lake tourism. 

Unique geologic conditions in this region led people to believe there might be diamond mines in Arkansas when the precious stones were found in similar peridotte soil in Kimberly, South Africa in the 1870s. The state geologist made an unsuccessful search in 1889, but the first stone was not found in what is now Crater of Diamonds State Park until 1906 by the owner of the land, John Welsley Huddleston. These were sent to a Little Rock jeweler who declared them genuine fine grade stones. He sold his land for only $36,000 and died a pauper. But his memory is kept alive by a historical marker marking the site of the first find, and by one of the state's events in the annual June Huddleston Day. The Crater of Diamonds State Park has changed hands several times over the years and several unsuccessful attempts have been made at commercial mining. The mine was operated privately, and as a tourist attraction from 1952 to 1972. In 1972, the State of Arkansas purchased the site for development as a state park.

The site of these Arkansas diamond mines is the only one in the world where the public can search for diamonds and keep any that they find. Prospecting visitors pay a small daily fee to search the eroded surface of an ancient gem-bearing volcanic "pipe" that is now a 37-acre field and is periodically plowed. The Arkansas diamond mines staff will provide free identification and certification of stones. Historical structures, old mining equipment, washing pavilions, and sun shelters are located on the field. Diamond mining tools are available for rent or purchase. To locate your Arkansas diamond mines treasure, you can use any tool without a battery, motor, or wheels that can be used to transport your haul. Visitors use everything from garden tools and kitchen utensils to their bare hands.

Will Crater of Diamonds State Park make you a fortune? Probably not, but there have been some exciting finds among the 20,000 or so stones thus far recovered. Three stones were particularly noteworthy, weighing in at 17.86 carats (1917), 20.25 carats (1921), and the record-setting Uncle Sam Diamond, a brilliant 40.23 carats (1924). About ten percent of the overall swag yields gem-quality stones. Even the industrial-grade stones usually have an attractive natural luster in the rough. Experts declared the gems at least as brilliant and valuable as those produced in South Africa or South America. Most of the stones found at these diamond mines in Arkansas are too small to be cut, and remain as fascinating souvenirs of your Arkansas vacations.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is open every day throughout the year, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Numerous nearby attractions in the region make this vacation destination. There are nearly 60 camping sites in the park. There is a nearby water park, fishing in the Little Missouri River, and hiking trails that are partially wheelchair accessible.

Australian Diamond Mines

 Argyle Diamond Mine
The Argyle diamond mine is located in the Kimberley region in the Australian state of Western Australia. The Argyle mine is the first commercial diamond mine dug along a olivine lamproite volcanic pipe rather than a kimberlite pipe. The Argyle volcanic pipe is a diatreme formed by gas or volatile explosive magma which has breached the surface to form a "tuff" (consolidated volcanic ash) cone. The Argyle mine also has alluvial mining operations.

The Argyle mine is the largest raw diamond producer in the world, but a low percentage of its yield (around 5%) is gem-quality. The worldwide average yield of gem-quality diamonds is around 20%. The remaining 95% of Argyle's production is classified as "near gem quality" and "industrial grade".

Arglye is owned by Anglo-Australian mining titan, the Rio Tinto Group (60% ownership), which also owns stakes in the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada and the Murowa diamond mine in Zimbabwe. Ashton Mining has the remaining 40% ownership. In 1996 Argyle turned the De Beers distribution monopoly on its head by going-it-alone, bypassing De Beers' Diamond Trading Company DTC/Sightholder wholesale network, selling directly to the Antwerp diamond trade.

Australia's Argyle pipe diamonds are approximately 1.5 billion years old, while the volcano which created the pipe is around 1.1 billion years old. This 400 million year gap represents a relatively short period for diamond formation. The short gestation period could explain the small size and unusual physical characteristics of these diamonds.

The mine produces 80% brown diamonds, 16% yellow diamonds, 2% white diamonds, and the remaining 1% are pink or green. Argyle diamonds fluoresce blue or green under ultraviolet light and the most common inclusions are graphite, crystalline orange garnet, pyroxene, and/or olivine. Most notably, the carbon found in Argyle diamonds mostly organic in origin.

Canadian Diamond Mines

Ekati Diamond Mine

 

Both the Ekati and Diavik mines are located in the pristine arctic wilderness of Canada's Northwest Territories some 350 miles south of the Arctic Ocean. The Ekati diamond mine is Canada's first diamond mining operation. It is located on Lac de Gras, in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Prospector Chuck Fipke discovered the Lac de Gras kimberlite pipes in 1991.

Ekati means "Caribou Fat Lake" in the language native to the Dog-Rib Indians of the Northwest Territories (NWT). The Ekati mine began operations on October 14 1998. The Ekati Diamond Mine now produces an average of three million carats of rough diamonds every year.

Diamonds from the Ekati mines are found in 45 to 62 million year old kimberlite pipes which lie directly underneath shallow lakes formed in inactive volcanic calderas or craters (crater lakes). Diamonds from the Ekati Mine are sold under the trade name "Aurias" and their authenticity is verified through the "CanadaMark" service, operated by BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. BHP Billiton Group is the world's largest diversified resources company.

The Ekati Mine laser-engraves the girdle of each diamond with the Ekati logo and a unique serial number signifying its authenticity and Canadian origin. The laser-engraving is only visible under magnification and using special light filters.





Diavik Diamond Mine

The Diavik open-pit diamond mine is located approximately 20 kilometers south-east of the Ekati diamond mine and 300 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Diavik Mine is built over four kimberlite pipes that lie directly beneath the existing shallow lake-bed of Lac de Gras. Mining operations are located on Lac de Gras' East Island. Due to the harsh weather conditions, access to the Ekati and Diavik mines is by air or a temporary ice road. The gravel landing strip can accommodate large jet aircraft.

The mine began construction in 2001 and mining production commenced on January of 2003. The Diavik diamond mine is a joint venture between the Aber Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group and was built for a cost of 1.13 billion dollars. The Diavik mine is expected to produce 1.5 million tons of kimberlite ore material in its estimated 16-22 year lifespan. The mine employs some 700 workers and produces around eight million carats (approx. 90 million dollars US) of rough diamonds per year.

List of diamond mines

There are a limited number of commercially viable diamond mines currently operating in the world. Diamonds are also mined alluvially over disperse areas, where diamonds have been eroded out of the ground, deposited, and concentrated by water or weather action. There is also at least one example of a non-commercial diamond mine (Crater of Diamonds State Park).Contents [hide]

1 List of diamond mines
1.1 Africa
1.2 Asia
1.3 North America
1.4 Oceania
2 List of diamond mining companies
3 See also

[edit]
List of diamond mines
[edit]
Africa
Angola
Catoca diamond mine
Fucauma diamond mine
Luarica diamond mine
Botswana
Damtshaa diamond mine
Jwaneng diamond mine
Letlhakane diamond mine
Orapa diamond mine
South Africa
Baken diamond mine
Cullinan diamond mine (previously "Premier mine")
Finsch diamond mine
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Koffiefontein mine
Venetia diamond mine
Other African locations
Murowa diamond mine, Zimbabwe
Williamson diamond mine, Tanzania
Letseng diamond mine, Lesotho
[edit]
Asia
Russia
Mirny GOK
Udachny GOK
India
Golkonda
Kollur Mine
Panna
Bunder Project
[edit]
North America
Canada
Diavik Diamond Mine
Ekati Diamond Mine
Jericho Diamond Mine
Snap Lake Diamond Mine
Victor Diamond Mine
Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine Project
United States of America
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine
[edit]
Oceania
Australia
Argyle diamond mine
Merlin diamond mine
[edit]
List of diamond mining companies
See also: Category:Diamond mining companies
ALROSA, operating mainly in Russia
BHP Billiton, 80% owner of the Ekati mine
Camphor, 4.9% owner of Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine Project
De Beers, owner of 20 mines in Africa, 70% owner of the Northwest Territories Snap Lake Diamond Mine Project, 100% owner of Ontario's Victor Diamond Mine Project, 60% owner of the Northwest Territories' Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine Project and participant in numerous joint ventures worldwide
Debswana, a partnership between De Beers and the government of Botswana
Endiama, the national diamond-mining company in Angola and exclusive concessionaire
Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, 40% owner of the Diavik mine
Petra Diamonds, operates in five African countries, mines include the Cullinan, Koffiefontein and Williamson mines, also the sole operator of the Alto Cuilo project in Angola.
Rio Tinto Group, partial owner of Argyle, Diavik (60%), and Murowa diamond mines
Tahera Diamond, owner of the Jericho mine in Canada

South African Diamond Mine Kimberley - North Cape

Kimberley is the present capital of Northern Cape provence in South Africa. Starting out as a mining/boom town, Kimberley became ground-zero for the historic South African diamond industry. It all started in 1866 on a farm near Hopetown, a young shepherd named Erasmus Jacobs found a small white pebble along the bank of the Orange River. That white pebble was passed on to a neighboring farmer named Schalk van Niekerk who sent it to Grahamstown to be identified by a Dr W.G. Atherstone. The pebble turned out to be a 21.25 carat diamond, dubbed the "Eureka."

In 1871, an even larger 83.50 carat diamond was found on the slopes of Colesberg Kopje, leading to the first 'diamond rush' into the area. Miners began arriving by the thousands, and the hill began to disappear, replaced by a gigantic open-pit mine known as the "Big Hole."
Kimberley began as a town called "New Rush" and was renamed Kimberley on June 5th 1873. Kimberley was named after the British Secretary of State of the Colonies, John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley. A diamond trader/speculator from England, named Barney Barnato systematically bought up pieces of the Big Hole to eventually create the 'Kimberley Central Mine.'

THE MINERAL DIAMOND

Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it will cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece.

As a gemstone, Diamond's single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamond is the April Birthstone.

In terms of it's physical properties, diamond is the ultimate mineral in several ways:
Hardness: Diamond is a perfect "10", defining the top of the hardness scale, and by absolute measures four times harder than sapphire (which is #9 on that scale).
Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other solid or liquid substance - nothing else even comes close.
Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five times better than the second best element, Silver!
Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees Kelvin)
Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance
Tensile Strength: Diamond has the highest tensile strength of any material, at 2.8 gigapascals. However, that does not quite translate into the strongest rope or cable, as diamond has cleavage planes which support crack propagation. The strongest ropes can likely be made from another material, carbon nanotubes, as they should not suffer from the effects of cracks and break. Still, if a long, thin, perfect crystal of diamond could be manufactured, it would offer the highest possible pulling strength (in a straight line - don't try to tie it in a knot!)
Compressive Strength: Diamond was once thought to be the material most resistant to compression (the least compressible). It is the material that scientists use to create the greatest pressures when testing matter. However, the rare metal Osmium has recently been shown to be even less compressible (although it is not as hard as diamond). Diamond has a bulk modulus (reciprocal of compressibility) of 443 GigaPascals (GPa). The bulk modulus of the metal osmium has recently been found to be 476 GPa, about 7% greater than diamond.