As a teenager, my view of the diamond industry has very much so been biased by popular culture. With films such as Blood Diamond (2006), and songs such as Blood Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West (2005), paint a horrifying picture of the diamond industry as a whole. However, Canada boasts a compeltely non-conflict diamond industry. I discovered that I realld didn't know as much as I should about the Canadian and world diamond industries. In my blog, I plan on discussing the process and refinement of conflict diamonds and their affect on workers, and the Canaidain diamond industry.
Canada has recently become a major contributer to the diamond industry. In 1991, the first deposit of diamonds in Canada was discovered in the Lac de Gras are of the North West Territories. By 2003, Canada had become the third largest diamond producer in the world.
Canada's three largest diamond mines are:
Diavik
Snap Lake
The Victor Open Pit Mine
In 2007, the diamond mining industry employed 2650 people in mine operations, and more than 1500 on site workers through support industries.
Friday, June 10, 2011
INTRO TO THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY
Diamonds are one of the world's major natural resources. 65% of the world's diamonds are produced in Africa ($8.5 billion worth); a total of $13 billion worth of rough diamonds produced each year worldwide. The diamond industry employs over 10 million people each year, and the sale of diamonds as jewellery has tripled in the last 25 years, with sales in an excess of $72 million.
Diamonds are mainly used for jewellery (30%), and industrial use (cutting, drilling, grinding etc.) They are so desirable to consumers because of their beautiful and unique appearance, and its association with emotions like love and happiness.
Diamonds go through a long process before they appear as we see them in our daily culture. Diamonds first began to form in the earth 3.3 billion years ago due to extreme heat and pressure. They are found in many places around the world (i.e. Canada, Angola) but are mainly found in Africa. They are then mined, sorted, cut and polished, manufactured then retailed.
In this blog, I will also be addressing the conflict and unrest in the past and present of the diamond industry.
Diamonds go through a long process before they appear as we see them in our daily culture. Diamonds first began to form in the earth 3.3 billion years ago due to extreme heat and pressure. They are found in many places around the world (i.e. Canada, Angola) but are mainly found in Africa. They are then mined, sorted, cut and polished, manufactured then retailed.
In this blog, I will also be addressing the conflict and unrest in the past and present of the diamond industry.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Canadian Diamond Industry
As a teenager, my view of the diamond industry has very much so been biased by popular culture. With films such as Blood Diamond (2006), and songs such as Blood Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West (2005), paint a horrifying picture of the diamond industry as a whole. However, Canada boasts a compeltely non-conflict diamond industry. I discovered that I realld didn't know as much as I should about the Canadian and world diamond industries. In my blog, I plan on discussing the process and refinement of conflict diamonds and their affect on workers, and the Canaidain diamond industry.
Canada has recently become a major contributer to the diamond industry. In 1991, the first deposit of diamonds in Canada was discovered in the Lac de Gras are of the North West Territories. By 2003, Canada had become the third largest diamond producer in the world.
Canada's three largest diamond mines are:
Diavik
Snap Lake
The Victor Open Pit Mine
In 2007, the diamond mining industry employed 2650 people in mine operations, and more than 1500 on site workers through support industries.
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