Diamonds have been mined for many years due to the value of these precious stones and yet most people only recognize them when they have been cut and polished. If you have never seen raw diamonds, you would probably not recognize them at all and this is why miners and diamond enthusiasts spend years learning about these precious stones and the ways in which they are formed so that they can recognize them when they see them.
The Different Colors of Diamonds
Diamonds can be found in an array of different colors, including:
While certain colors are more common, and therefore less expensive, there are those that are rarer and this greatly influences the cost of these precious stones. Yellow diamonds are usually only found in specific areas of the world and this is why they are more expensive than many of the others.
The Surface Features of Raw Diamonds
Those that mine for diamonds tend to pay attention to the features of stones that are found because this is one way that a diamond can be identified. Glassy or mirrored surfaces are usually found on Octahedrons and dodecahedrons and you can see right through these types of diamonds. Frosted surfaces are more commonly found in diamonds in placer deposits and this feature is a result of diamonds that have been exposed to water for long periods of time.
Serrated or grooved surfaces are common in many diamonds and they provide the diamond with a different texture than the smooth, glassy one that most people are used to. The last type of surface feature that is usually found on diamonds is a blemished surface and this is caused by radiation that stains the surface of the diamond. The stains on the diamonds are usually dark green but they can also be brown or grey.
Mining for Raw Diamonds
When mining for diamonds, people turn to mining deep into the earth or sifting through streams and rivers nearby diamond deposits. When a diamond is still trapped in the earth, it is called a pipe diamond. When these precious stones are found in streams or rivers, they are called placer deposits and this usually occurs due to erosion; the diamond is literally taken from deep inside the earth and carried, by water, to a location in the surrounding areas.
Spotting Raw Diamonds
Raw diamonds can be spotted through their sheen and their gravity. These factors make diamonds unique to most other minerals and they are the methods of determining whether the precious stone is a diamond or another type of mineral. The gravity of a diamond is high because it is denser than most other minerals.
Miners use a special solution, which they place the stone into, to determine whether it is a diamond or not. If the stone remains suspended in the solution, the chances of it being a diamond are much higher. There are certain other minerals which share certain qualities with diamonds but there are many other tests that can be conducted to ensure the accuracy of the results.