Diamonds Are Forever

A Presentation by:

Nick ClintonAsha Scott

Yrbenka Arthus

DiamondA diamond is a gemstone formed from carbon crystallized by extreme pressures deep into Earth’s mantle

Exploration Mining Sorting Cutting & Polishing

The first diamond mining took place in India over 4,000 years ago. Diamond mining takes place in over thirty-five countries, but most is down in West Africa, especially Sierra Leone and Angola. The two types of mining are:

Primary Deposit

Secondary Deposit Diamond Process

Mining

UsesJewelry• Earrings•Bracelets•Necklaces•Eyeglass Frames•Rings•Anklets

Industry•Conduct electricity•Clings to grease•Repels water•Cutting tools•Surgical tools•Computer chips •Drill bits for machinery•Cut glass

Cultural Consequences

•Child Labor is used to mine diamonds in Africa and India (deprived of an education)•Rebel forces extract diamonds, sell them illegally, and use the money to fund insurgent activities •Workers paid only a fraction of 1% of the stone’s value•Hazardous working conditions•Diamond mining industry and its illegal activities promote and finance civil wars

Blood Diamonds

Addressing the Issue“Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, diamond traders, financial institutions, arms manufacturers, social and educational institutions and other civil society players need to combine their efforts, demand the strict enforcement of sanctions and encourage real peace.”

http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html

•The international diamond industry is also taking steps to respond, such as the adoption by the World Diamond Congress