Diamond Mining News
Zimbabwe
diamonds cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
(Robin Hammond)
In the past Zimbabwean security officials had forced locals
to dig for Zimbabwe diamonds at the
Marange diamond fields
Life of a diamond: From
start to finish, diamond mining and exploration is a tedious and expensive
mission, but the value of the product at the end of it is worth the output. An
exhibition in Ontario tells more
Once a hotbed of gold mining,
Canada's far north is now unearthing riches from a different precious commodity
- diamonds. ...
At the Diavik mine, just over 130
miles south of the Arctic Circle, a 650-foot deep crater pierces a frozen-white
tundra, yielding some of the purest diamond deposits known.
Comparing the properties of diamonds and graphite provides clues as to where
diamonds originate. Graphite forms close to the surface of the earth. The fact
that diamond’s crystalline structure is more compact than that of graphite
implies that they form in deeper environments where pressure and temperature is
higher. read more about Diamonds
& Graphite
150,000 Indian diamond workers will be jobless !
"The
DTC has a finite supply, which is
significantly outstripped by the volume
of rough diamonds being requested by
applicants" - DTC indian diamond
shortage
MD Varda Shine dec 07
Botswana's diamond trading firm expects
to sell $360 million worth of rough diamonds to local gem cutters in 2008, as
the world's biggest diamond producer by value pushes to forge a local polishing
industry...
Jwaneng mine in Botswana is already 25 years
old
Flinders Diamonds managing director Kevin Wills says diamond explorers are
missing out on the resources boom.
 Oldest
Diamond find could shed light on early Earth
Gems found in Western Australia are more than 4 billion years old
A transmission light image of Jack Hills zircons from Australia shows an angular
diamond inclusion.
 USA
Wakes Up Late In Search for Sea Diamonds and
Minerals.
USA Today reports that Russia has announced the sensational results
of its Arctic expedition, which will enable it to acquire some highly
mineral-rich territory.
Liberia: No More Moratorium On Diamond Mining
De Beers mining
problems In Canada’s remote north, mining engineers are about to begin
production at Snap Lake, the latest in a string of diamond mines to spring to
life in this barren wilderness. The global diamond industry has reached a
crucial turning-point: Snap Lake will be the first mine outside Africa for De
Beers, the South African company that for years held a controversial monopoly
over world supplies.
Liberia: No More Moratorium On Diamond Mining
found at The
Liberia Analyst (Monrovia) 30 July 2007
The government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Lands,
Mines and Energy, has moved to lift the moratorium on diamond mining in the
country.
The announcement of the lifting of moratorium on Diamond
was made in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County during celebrations marking the 160th
Independence Anniversary by the Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy, Dr.
Eugene Shannon.
According to him, the lifting of the moratorium has become
imperative because the "final component of the Kimberly Process which are
the Export Certificates itself has now arrived in Liberia."
As of Monday July 30th, he said, the Bureau of Mines at
the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy will be opened to process diamond
license claims and license applications for brokers and dealers.
He called on all wishing to participate in the diamond
industry to "not just do it right, but make sure others do it right;"
noting further that "all have a role to play in ensuring that our national
resources become our national assets as proceeds of these assets can be shared
for the benefit of all Liberians.
"Smuggling, illegal trading robs us all of its
benefits. If you are working in the pit, ensure your claim is licensed; if you
are a broker, ensure that the diamonds you buy are from license claims; if you
are a dealer, ensure that you buy it from license brokers," he warned.
Minister Shannon indicated that since the UN Security
Council announced the lifting of the sanctions on Liberian diamonds in late
April, paving the way for one of Liberia's key resources to play part in
kick-starting the country's badly bruised economy, his ministry has been working
assiduously with the help of partners to put necessary procedures in place to
recommence the extraction and exportation of the gem.
"As such Liberia is now an active member of the
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) whose rules and regulations govern
the international trade in rough diamonds.
"To comply with these requirements, our work has
focused upon efforts to combat the smuggling of our diamond resource and to
establish regional offices that form a basis of a chain of custody
mechanism," he said.
Part of what they've done has been to train staff, equip
the government diamond office, as well as secure the authority that would
certify diamonds being exported within the regulations of the KPCS.
He reiterated that the diamond industry is no longer as it
was because much has changed. "The laws of Liberia have changed to ensure
compliance with international standards.
All persons operating diamond mines or acting as brokers
or dealers in the diamond industry need to be licensed. There are stiffer
penalties for offenders which form part of our new standards," Minster
Shannon noted.
He emphasized that the staff from the government diamond
office will continue to work closely with those taking up licenses by offering
advice, explaining the new procedures and setting the standards.
The Lands, Mines & Energy Minister said as the
ministry restarts the diamond business in the country, they are mindful that
many will have their own questions; as such, the ministry will assist everyone
to act within the law.
"The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy has
established a telephone hotline direct to the diamond office. Calling this
number will put you in direct contact with staff who can answer your questions
regarding our diamond laws and the Kimberly Process.
The temporary number you can call is 06. 473.793," He
disclosed. He said that mechanisms are in place to ensure that Liberians can
participate in the diamond industry in a fair and open manner; but warned,
"Let's not abuse this privilege.
"Let us show our international partners and the world
at large that Liberia is open for business but let us not do business in the old
way."
He noted that diamonds are traded on the world market.
"By our actions and our deeds, we must demonstrate to the whole world that
we are not just opened but serious for business," he concluded.
Copyright © 2007 The Liberia
Analyst.
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