Diamond
Source - What is Kimberlite?
What is Kimberlite?
Kimberlite is a rock that occurs in ancient volcanic pipes. The
kimberlite rock is the most common host of diamonds.
Volcanic pipes, or channels are commonly referred to as kimberlites.
Kimberlite is the blue rock typical of these volcanic pipes.
When a volcano erupts diamonds are also deposited on, or
near, the surface the Kimberlite. The diamond deposits
discovered at Kimberley in South Africa were the first deposits where
this type of rock was recognized and was the source of its name.
Diamond
Source - What is a Placer or Alluvial Deposit?
What is a Placer
Deposit or Alluvial Deposit? Some of the kimberlite host rock is washed
away by streams and rivers and the diamonds and is deposited in the
stream sands in 'placer deposits'. The sediment deposited by
flowing water, such as in a riverbed, is referred to as an Alluvial
deposit. These deposits are caused by volcanic eruptions or by millions
of years of erosion caused by rainfall and snow-melt which unearth the
diamonds from their kimberlite source.
Source of Diamonds
- Rough Diamonds
Rough
Diamonds present a rough surface, resembling poorly polished glass, and
are often dull, as though covered with a thin coating of gum
Source of Diamonds -
The Discovery of the Cullinan Diamond
The source of diamonds provide an understanding of how diamonds are
discovered. This is illustrated through the history of the giant
Cullinan Diamond which originated in
South Africa. The Cullinan
Diamond was named after Thomas Cullinan who was a South
African businessman and amateur geologist. Cullinan became interested in
the area east of Pretoria because of the alluvial diamonds that were being found in
a stream at a nearby farm. (A Placer or Alluvial deposit). Thomas
Cullinan bought the farm and established the Premier Diamond Mine in 1905. Frederick
Wells, the superintendent of the Premier Mine found the rough
'Cullinan' crystal
when he was making a routine inspection of the mine, eighteen
feet below the ground. The crystal was embedded in the
Kimberlite rock. It was enormous and looked liked colored glass - Wells
thought that one of his workers had planted it there as a practical
joke! This story perfectly illustrates the source of a diamond!
Source of Diamonds
The source of diamonds is a fascinating subject. This page was designed
to clarify the source of diamonds and the meaning of Kimberlite, Placer
Deposits and Alluvial deposits. Click the following links for information
relating to
Where Diamonds are
Found and
Diamond Mines
Diamonds are Forever...
An Impartial Guide to Diamonds
Facts - Information - Guide - Diamond Source - Kimberlite - Placer
deposits - Alluvial
deposits -
Diamond Source - Definition - Diamond Source - Common
Forms
Diamond Source -
Kimberlite and Placer Deposits |