Hello John,
<<it is breaking diamonds which reduces (their) true value>> Just a minor technical note of interest. An unflawed diamond does not break during ore crushing or reclamation. I've been in DeBeers recovery plants and asked. Crushing is done with "floating heads" which limits the pressure placed on a diamond during separation from gangue. Also, DeBeers makes use of X-ray separation whereby diamonds fluoresce (sp?) and the emitted light triggers a photo-cell. That triggers a powerful airblast which hurls the diamond against a steel plate with sufficient force to make a loud "bang."
Imagine, please, that the plant security measures are rigorous so the walls and glass panels through which this process can be observed, are thick. Hence, I'm judging (they won't answer questions) that, for the sound to be so very audible, the velocity of the diamond hitting the plate is high. I've asked if this doesn't damage the diamonds. The answer is that if the diamond can be damaged, then it would be separated into its good components during cutting anyway. So, separation into good components is (partially) done up front.
So, I suspect if someone tells you, to account for reduced value, that diamond is being damaged there is some other issue about the fundamental price value of diamond being produced that is being obscured.
RH |
