It is hard to believe that beautiful diamonds take millions of years to form. Interestingly, diamonds are the hardest natural material in the world. Diamonds come from deep in the earth’s crust, formed by a huge amount of pressure and high temperatures. Diamonds, which are made of carbon, come from depths of around 90 miles below the earth’s surface. In addition, they form at temperatures of around two-thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Most diamonds are over a billion years old by the time they are found.
Diamonds come to the surface with magma. Amazingly, diamonds form three to four times deeper than the depth of a volcano. So, the phenomenon of magma bringing diamonds up is rare. When it does happen, the cooled magma forms a rock called a kimberlite. Miners know that kimberlites are indicative of diamonds in the area. Miners work in kimberlite dikes or pipes hoping to find diamonds. On the other hand, glaciers may transport diamonds hundreds of miles away from where they surfaced. Individuals can find Diamonds in Auburn MA, and they do not have to go mining. One of the best sources of diamonds in the area is Cormier Jewelers. India was the world’s top source of diamonds for centuries. Today, half of the diamonds are mined in southern and central Africa. Most of these mines are owned by the De Beers Group, the leading diamond company in the world.
Cecil Rhodes got his start in diamonds by renting water pumps to miners in 1869. De Beers was formed when an 83.5 carat diamond was found near Hopetown, South Africa. Rhodes used the profits from his business to buy up other smaller operations. In 1898, Rhodes solidified his hold on the diamond business by making a deal with the Diamond Syndicate in London. They agreed to regulate the output of diamonds and control the prices. The De Beers Group was forced to merge with a company operated by Ernest Oppenheimer during World War I. De Beers controlled ninety percent of the world’s diamond production by the early 20th century. The next time one buys Diamonds in Auburn MA, think of the history of how your diamond made it to the store.
