Diamond Mining

Diamond Mining





Diamonds are extracted from the earth crust via three main types on mining. These diamond extraction methods depends on how minerals are deposited within the earth, the stability of material surrounding the , and the peripheral damage done to the surrounding environment. The principle methods of extraction for diamonds are as follows:

• Hard Rock Mining
• Marine Mining
• Open Pit Mining
• Placer Mining

Hard-Rock Mining
The term “Hard Rock Diamond Mining” buy its name refers to various techniques used to mine gems, and ore bodies by tunneling underground and creating underground “rooms” supported by pillars of timber standing rock. Accessing the underground ore is achieved via a “decline”. A “decline” is a spiral tunnel which circles the borders of the ore deposit or circles around the deposit. A “decline” is generally used for personnel and machinery access to the ore.

Open Pit Mining

Open-Pit diamond mining also known as “Open-Cast Mining” is a method of extracting rough diamonds from the earth by removal from an open pit. Open pit mines are used when deposits of minerals are found near the surface. Open pit mining is used when the “overburden,” or surface material covering the deposit, is relatively thin or the minerals are imbedded in structurally unstable earth that is unsuitable for tunneling.

Placer Mining
Placer Diamond Mining is also known as “sand bank mining” is used for extracting diamonds from alluvial secondary deposits. Placer Mining is a form of open-pit or open-cast mining used to extract diamonds from the surface of the earth without the use of tunneling. Excavation is accomplished using water pressure or surface excavating equipment.

Marine Mining
Marine mining technology only became viable only in the in the early 1990s. Marine diamond mining employs both “vertical” and “horizontal” techniques to extract diamonds from offshore pl deposits. Vertical marine mining uses a 5 to 8 meter diameter drill head to cut into the seabed and suck up the diamond bearing material from the sea bed. Horizontal mining employs the use of Seabed Crawlers move across the sea floor pumping gravel up to an offshore vessel.