Mining Diamonds

There is two main types of diamond mining; pipe mining and alluvial. Diamonds are mined today in about 25 countries, in every continent but Europe and Antarctica.
Pipe mining involves using volcanic pipes in the earths surface. volcanic pipes are generally composed of kimberlite which is dug away from the surface of the earth in rough open cast mining, they are natural pipes in the ground not man made. Once the material on the surface has been used up, shafts are put next to the pipes and tunnels are driven into the deepest part of the pipe. Once the rocks containing rough diamonds are brought to the surface they are then transported to the screening plants where the diamonds are separated from the rock.