Countries around the world are mining highly valuable diamonds but some do this more than others. There are a limited number of diamond mines globally, and 50 of the largest mines account for around 90% of the world’s supply.
The four basic kinds of diamond mining are alluvial mining, pit mining, underground mining, and marine mining.
India was the first major diamond mining country, where the stones were first discovered in the 4th century BC. The country remained the most important source of diamonds until they were found in Brazil in the 1720s, North America in the 1840s, and Africa in the 1860s.
Diamond giant De Beers produces and sells only about 30 per cent of the world’s diamonds, which is about the same as the Russian mining company Alrosa.
The production of diamonds has come under much scrutiny over the years due to the history of unethical processes within the trade.
Unethical diamonds, often known as conflict diamonds, are a huge controversy. These precious stones are also commonly known as blood diamonds because of the bloodshed to acquire them.
A conflict diamond will have been stolen or illegally mined and often sold to raise money for rebel militia or terrorist groups.
Today, you can purchase so-called responsible diamonds which provide a trace from the mine to your finger with new diamond provenance certification.
Ninety-nine per cent of the world’s natural diamonds are considered conflict-free. However, many argue that most diamonds marketed as ‘conflict-free’ are not ethically sourced. It can be difficult to determine if a stone is ethically sourced.
There are an estimated 10 million people globally working in diamond mines, and a lot of them are forced into labour, exploitation, and abuse. It is thought that more than 1,000,000 miners digging for the highly sought-after stones are being paid less than £1 per day.
A good way to ensure your diamond is conflict-free and ethically sourced is by checking for the Kimberly Process Certification.
A statement on the De Beers website reads: “Transparency is at the heart of De Beers Jewellers. Our diamonds are ethically sourced in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Each one is inscribed with the De Beers Marque, which guarantees that it is natural, untreated and conflict-free.”
Alrosa’s statement reads: “Complying with all Russian and international laws and respecting human rights is just one cornerstone of the Company’s business reputation.”
Here are the top diamond mining countries in the world.