How are diamonds mined?

Diamond stands out among any other natural substances with its extraordinary hardness, and at the same time is quite rare. These and other unusual properties make this rock very popular throughout the world. Therefore, it is important to know how they are extracted in nature.

The paradoxical nature of diamonds is that they are very hard, although they are made of carbon. The same carbon, only with a different crystal lattice, forms graphite (the softest of rocks). All diamonds that are mined are formed by extremely tightly aligned atoms. Exceptional strength does not prevent the mineral from being brittle: with a sharp impact, the crystal breaks. It is believed that the occurrence of diamonds occurred at a depth of tens or hundreds of kilometers, over hundreds of millions of years.

Most often, in order to mine diamonds on an industrial scale, they look for kimberlite pipes. These geological formations are named after the city of Kimberley, in South Africa, where this type of deposits was first discovered. The formation of a mineral in the earth's depths occurs at very high temperatures and pressures. The final version of the origin of diamonds has not yet been developed by science.

The geological structures in which diamonds are located are gradually destroyed by wind and water. Crushed stone, pebbles, gravel and other surrounding rocks move. There are only assumptions of varying degrees of reliability. As a result, loose deposits are formed. Another type (but much rarer) is a particularly hard form of carbon that appears in places where meteorites fall.

In each of these cases there is a number of shades, however, it is important to pay attention to the value of specific colors. Transparent blue, green and pink colors are rare (and therefore valued). Even higher is the cost of 100% colorless stones.

Regardless of which version some experts adhere to, they all agree on one thing: important stages of stone formation take place at great depths. From there, together with magmatic currents, the substance goes up. At a certain moment, explosive tubes actually appear. The depth of their occurrence does not exceed 1500 m.

Everyone almost knows about the industrial production of diamonds in Yakutia and South Africa. But also it is being conducted:

• in the Arkhangelsk region;
• western Australia;
• Canada
• Congo
• Botswana.

Mining from placers is practically not conducted. They play only a small role in the global supply of rough diamonds. Yes, and the stability of supplies of surface-extracted products is in question. An open pit method (quarry) is usually practiced when extracting diamonds from a depth of 600 m or less. In deeper tubes, rough diamonds can be mined using mines.

They try to postpone the construction of mines until the last moment. Usually these are plots either in the permafrost zone, or in especially hot places. Often at great depths in the workings, it is required to continuously pump underground water. The rock is transported from quarries and then from mines in large trucks to factories. There they clean this raw material with water.

Modern careers have already reached almost the maximum depth that they can enter. Experience has shown that further complicates the matter is the small working width and the steepness of the sides. From the very beginning, it is planned to open-cut diamonds by stages. This technique makes it possible to more often track changes in rock properties and production in general. Accordingly, the selection of optimal methods and schemes of work is facilitated.

To correctly select the side parameters at the very beginning of development, it is necessary to use exploratory wells. The samples extracted from there are subjected to physical and chemical tests according to a special program. Additionally, experience is taken into account when developing similar quarries. The contours of the sides optimize the design. They cannot be carried out very hollow, otherwise the work becomes very complicated.

For all intermediate loops, the rock properties are continuously refined taking into account the samples taken from each batch. Field tests are sometimes practiced right on board the quarry. Particular attention is paid to assessing the degree of cracking of rocks. Additionally study how they behave on steep slopes. The angle of inclination of the real side is laid in projects from 50 to 55 degrees.

Usually the process takes months, but sometimes stretches over several years. Be sure to use special calculations. Only they allow us to conclude where the solid deposits are located, and where random finds were made.

Both quarries and mines or mines are most often built in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, residential and industrial infrastructure is being created around. A number of examples are known when a field became a city-forming object for a rather large city. Since it is not profitable to trade raw materials in their pure form, enrichment plants are being built. With them, diamonds finally separated from waste rock are transported to lapidary enterprises.

They also naturally try to organize a cut nearby. The deeper the deposits, the more money will have to be invested in their development and field development.

For a very long time, diamonds and diamonds could only be obtained from India. But no matter how rich the masses of natural processes were put aside in their time, by the end of the 17th century these reserves were already exhausted to a large extent. Productivity plummeted. However, the development of technology has helped turn the tide. The situation has changed dramatically after the opening of kimberlite pipes.

To understand more deeply how mining occurs, one must return to the question of the appearance of diamonds in nature. The prevailing theory is that they form at depths of over 100 km, where very high temperatures and pressures develop. The rock rises up in the process of volcanic eruptions.

To find suitable objects and establish production on them is possible only at significant cost. The preparatory process is already expensive, complicated and long. It is believed that for the extraction of every 2 carats of rough diamonds, more than 1000 kg of rock must be processed. Careers are created first by blasting. Drill bore holes and lay explosives there, then crush the rock layer by layer.

The deepening of the workings is carried out until the receipt of mineral resources ceases. The big problem is the separation of valuable raw materials from ore. The following approaches are used:

• the operation of the fat installation;
• search for the necessary crystals in x-rays;
• immersion of rock in special suspensions.

The fat method involves mixing the extracted rock with water, and then pouring it onto a surface greased with special fat. Crystals are stored on fat. A more advanced technique is X-ray scans. In most cases, the suspension method is used. In a liquid having an increased density, the waste rock is drowned, with pieces of carbon being on the surface.

In the recent past, Brazil and then Australia were the leaders in diamond mining. But Australian diamond deposits are running out of steam. Angola is also one of the six leading states. However, in Canada, Botswana is extracted much more valuable gems.

Both placers and mines are quickly developed. We have to systematically update the network of mines and quarries. The deeper the same quarries, the less likely it is to find a significant amount of raw materials. Therefore, an increasing number of quarries with a depth of more than a kilometer is closed due to unprofitability. The mining method of mining is more complex and dangerous, however, it is economically viable.

The largest diamond deposit in our country is Mir in Yakutia. Its development has been ongoing since the late 1950s. From 1957 to 2001 $ 17 billion worth of mineral was extracted there in a career way (at current prices). To ensure this result, it was necessary to crush, lift and export approximately 350 million cubic meters. m. waste rock. By the end of the 1990s, the output reached such proportions that dump trucks had to drive 8 km from the production point to the warehouse. In 2001, the quarries had to be mothballed due to the excessive complexity.

And in 2009, the use of the Mir mine began. Water circulating underground does not just pump out - it is redirected through pipes to special faults discovered by nearby geologists. In 2013, the deposit produced another 2 million carats of excellent diamonds of technical quality. The company operates 7 days a week, the duration of mining shifts is 7 hours.

Combine harvesters used at the mine are equipped with arrows with milling crowns.The teeth, although they are made of hardened metal, are subject to very severe wear. Therefore, each shift to start work inspects the working part of the tools. If necessary, replace it immediately. Crushed rock is transported to the exit from the mine using conveyor belts.

In a number of diamond mines, individual bottom parts are specially left intact during development. Their thickness can reach several tens of meters. If these structures were developed, it would be practically impossible to avoid flooding of deposits. Additionally, layers of waterproof materials are used for protection. Rock is transported in mines and quarries using colossal trucks (sometimes with a capacity of more than 100 tons).

In the past, the situation was completely different. Until the 19th century, no mechanical devices were used. The “queen” of diamond mining was an ordinary mountain shovel or pickaxe. Sometimes they simply rowed river sand and manually passed it through a sieve. But such methods have long lost their usefulness.

And among the two methods - career and mine - the second option is more attractive. Much attention in the daily work of diamond miners is given to safety rules. No one is allowed to go underground without a helmet with a built-in flashlight and without an autonomous breathing apparatus. It is strictly forbidden to leave him further than 3 m from yourself. Be sure to equip ventilation, thanks to which it is normal to breathe underground easily.

Russian diamond mining enterprises (especially those located in Yakutia) are perhaps the most high-tech in the world. They use vehicles designed for very severe frosts. Very stringent temperature requirements apply to other equipment. It is believed that a new field can be commissioned from scratch for $ 3 or 4 billion. Whether this amount includes the cost of primary geological exploration - not a single company reports.

But later, when the quarry or mine is ready, using them and developing the mine will be much cheaper. The greatest difficulty with the underground method is the maintenance of an optimal working environment. The main trunks for raising rocks can be used in case of accidents. Recreational niches are being prepared in different places of the mines.

For how diamonds are mined in Russia, see the following fideo: