Australia is not frequently viewed as a center as a large diamond industry; however, in recent years increasing attention has come to Australia as home to numerous diamond deposits. In fact, Australia has come to be recognized as a large potential diamond industry. Geoscientists who have been studying the geologic makeup of Australia have speculated that if they are able to determine where and how diamonds form in the area, they may be able to better point to where the best places may be to look for diamonds in Australia.In the past, much of the process of looking for diamonds relied primarily on guesswork as well as a lot of gut instinct. As a result, this could lead to massive amounts of mining in particular areas and large investments of money with very little to show for it. A large number of diamond mining companies used guidelines that had been used for many years while searching for diamonds. The result? Millions of wasted dollars looking in places that turned up few if any diamonds.
By understanding more about the geology as well as the physics behind where and why diamond deposits occur scientists believe they will be in a better position to more accurately determine where mining companies should be looking for diamond deposits.
Currently, the results of a variety of tests are being used to understand the makeup and the behavior of diamonds as they form under pressure deep within the Earth. Scientists are also quick to point out that while most consumers believe diamonds are virtually indestructible, they have found that diamonds that have been formed in less solid conditions are capable of being damaged. In fact, they believe that many of these diamonds might even have been destroyed before they ever reached the surface of the earth. Scientists have reported that it is entirely plausible that plentiful deposits of diamonds deep within the Earth are entirely possible, but the problem is trying to reach those deposits. An extremely violent volcanic eruption would be required in order to access those diamonds: something on the scale of an atomic bomb.
Scientists have thus far identified a section of land in Western Australia that stretches into the Northern Territory where diamonds may be present. Currently approximately 49% of the world’s supply of diamonds is mined in central and southern Africa. Australia is also believed to be home to quite a large deposit of diamonds.
This is not the first time that Australia has made news in the diamond world. Scientists have also discovered that the oldest diamonds believed to be in existence were discovered in Australia–Western Australia, to be precise. These diamonds were estimated to be some 4 billion years old. Interstellar diamonds in the sky have also been discovered directly above the skies of Australia. Only time will tell whether Australia will be the site of the next big diamond rush, but current information certainly appears to be promising.
Other articles of interest:
