List of Diamond Mines in Namibia
What Is Diamond?
Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. At room temperature and pressure, another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon, but diamond almost never converts to it.
List of Diamond Mines in Namibia
Namib Desert
kolmanskop
Frequently Ask Questions
Are there diamonds in Namibia?
Namibia is a Southern African nation with rich diamond reserves. Their production comes mostly from marine sources: diamonds that have been deposited on the ocean floor as a result of river movements and ancient tidal basin flows. There are also a few small, land-based mining operations.
Where was the first diamond found in Namibia?
The official story of Namibia’s diamond history starts in 1908, when a young railways worker, Zacharias Lewala picks up a large shiny diamond whilst on duty near the country’s southern coastal town of Luderitz
Are there still diamonds in kolmanskop?
Situated on the southern flank of West Africa’s sprawling Namib Desert, the small town of Kolmanskop has been reclaimed by the sand. But 100 years ago it was home to a busy diamond mine. In the town’s heyday, the precious stones were so easy to find that they could be picked out of the sand.
Who found the first diamond in Namibia?
Intensive mining depleted the area by the 1930s, and in 1928, the town’s fate was sealed when the richest diamond fields ever known were found on the beach terraces to the south. The townspeople left in droves, abandoning homes and possessions. By 1956, Kolmanskop was completely abandoned.
Can diamonds wash up on beach in Namibia?
But, many of the world’s most valuable raw diamonds travel a much less violent pathway to market. They take a 90 million year waterborne journey, starting from a riverbank in inland South Africa and eventually wash ashore on the pristine Atlantic coastline of Namibia.
Which country is known as Diamond of desert?
Only on 21 March 1990, Namibia gained independence from South Africa. The country’s name is derived from the Namib Desert. With an area of 824,292 km² (318,260 sq.
What minerals are found in Namibia?
Namibia’s mining industry produces diamonds, uranium, copper, magnesium, zinc, silver, gold, lead, semi-precious stones and industrial minerals. However, diamonds and uranium still represent the country’s most salient commodities from an export revenue point of view
Are there diamonds in the ocean in Namibia?
Diamonds do not originally come from the sea. Over billions of years, gaseous carbon in the hot interior of the earth was extremely compressed until it crystallized to form diamonds. That is why the most famous diamond mines are located in volcanic craters – although later people discovered deep sea diamonds.
Where is the Namib Desert?
The Namib Desert ecoregion extends along the coastal plain of western Namibia, from the Uniab River in the north to the town of Luderitz in the south. It extends inland from the Atlantic Coastline to the foot of the Namib Escarpment, a distance of between 80 and 200 km.
What type of soil are diamonds found in in Namibia?
However, diamonds do form in mineral crystal deposits found in igneous rock. This rock is in the upper mantle of the Earth’s crust, and crystallizes with the help of minerals known as peridotites and eclogites under specific temperature and pressure conditions.
What is in diamond in Namibia?
Diamonds are made of carbon so they form as carbon atoms under a high temperature and pressure; they bond together to start growing crystals.
What stone is closest to a diamond in Namibia?
In terms of appearance, zircon comes closer to diamond than any other mined gemstone. However, in terms of durability, it’s far more fragile. It will easily chip and abrade with wear.
What is the rarest color of diamonds in Namibia?
In diamonds, rarity equals value. With diamonds in the normal range, value is based on the absence of color, because colorless diamonds are the rarest. With fancy color diamonds—the ones outside the normal color range—the rarest and most valuable colors are saturated pinks, blues, and greens.
Why diamond is expensive in Namibia?
A diamond is the hardest material on the earth and the most expensive gemstone as well. Diamonds are not rare but high-quality diamonds that can be used in the jewelry are rare. In addition, the size and quality of the diamond also plays a major role on the price. These are the reasons why diamonds are so expensive.