Where were diamonds first mined?

Answer

Diamond History

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/papr/diamonds.html

The word diamond comes from the Greek term adamas, which means "unconquerable." They were initially used for to engraving other gems like sapphire cameos, and for drilling holes in hard, stone beads. Romans believed that diamonds had the power to ward off evil and wore them as talismans, a habit they inherited from Indian culture.

Diamonds were not used as gems in European jewelry until the late 13th century, but a French law of the time decreed that only the king could wear them. In the symbolism of gemstones, the diamond represents steadfast love and is the birthstone for April.

The largest rough diamond ever found was the Cullinan, 3,106 carats, discovered in 1905 in South Africa. In 1907, the Transvaal government presented it to King Edward VII. It was cut into 9 major stones, including the largest world's gem diamond, the Cullinan 1, or Star of Africa, weighing 550.20 carats. This is mounted in the British Royal Scepter and housed in the Tower of London.

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~eps2/wisc/diamond.html

Diamond Occurance

Diamonds occur in two general types of deposits world wide:

volcanic pipes, also known as kimberlite pipes

alluvial, or placer, deposits, which were formed by the erosion of diamond pipes over millions of years.

The following is not required information for students of EPS 2

The earliest productive mines were in the Golconda region of India, particularly along the Kristna River. After 1725 this mining district was gradually eclipsed in importance by the diamond deposits of Brazil. Diamonds were first mined there along the Jequitinhonha River, in the Diamantina area of the state of Minas Gerais.

In 1867 a 21-carat stone was discovered on the banks of the Orange River near Hopetown, South Africa. A great diamond rush started, and new deposits were discovered that were more productive than any the world had ever known. Another major diamond resource was developed in the 1950s in the Yakutia region of the Soviet Union. By the 1980s the Yakutia and South African regions and the country of Zaire dominated the world's diamond market. The mineral has also been found in smaller amounts in numerous other places. In the United States the leading producers include Arizona, Nevada, and Montana, although the largest gemstones have been found in an eroded volcanic pipe in Pike County, Ark.

For many years, microscopic diamonds have occasionally been noted in meteorites; they were attributed to high-speed collisions in space or with the Earth. In 1987, however, following the discovery of many more such diamonds, the theory was developed that they are the product of ancient supernova explosions of giant stars.

In recent years, diamonds have been found in unusual metamorphic rocks that were subjected to very high temperatures and pressures.

• What do the letters gm on jewerly mean?
• Name three metals that are used as gold alloys and explain how each one affects the cost working quality and the colour?
• What watch is diane keaton wearing in somethings gotta give?