(via Reuters) It has been reported that China, the world's third largest gold producer will become the second largest producer of gold in 2007.
The real story @ http://in.news.yahoo.com/070608/137/6gscn.html
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Challenges And Opportunities Of Growing And Marketing South Sea Cultured Pearls
Nicholas Paspaley (Executive Chairman, Paspaley Pearling Company Pty Ltd, Australia) writes:
Over the last 50 years, the cultured pearl industry has undergone a significant transformation. It has changed from a period when Japanese and (later) South Sea cultured pearls were effectively the only cultured pearls in the marketplace to the situation today, where there are a large variety of cultured pearls available from many different localities and of many different types.
In the pre-culturing era, all oceanic (saltwater) pearls were classified as Oriental pearls, and South Sea pearls fell into this generic category. With the advent of pearl culturing, however, pearls became more accurately known for the type of oyster that produced them and the region in which those oysters grew—hence the term South Sea pearls.
Naturally occurring pearls from the Pinctada maxima oyster native to the South Seas have been traded for thousands of years. But in past centuries, many natural South Sea pearls were undoubtedly traded simply as Gulf pearls. Because of its spectacular nacre, the South Sea pearl oyster historically has produced some of the most significant natural pearls in the world. Therefore, it follows that this oyster ahs the ability to produce magnificent cultured pearls as well.
However, the competition for market share between gem producers as well as between different pearl types is fierce. At the same time, there are significant gaps in the expertise required to grow pearl oysters and conduct pearl farming compared to many other fields of knowledge. There are very few experts today who have a broad knowledge on a comprehensive range of pearl and pearl farming issues.
The challenge for the South Sea cultured pearl industry today is twofold: to produce pearls of a superior quality, on the basis of which they can be differentiated in the wider pearl market, and to improve the level of knowledge and understanding of pearls in the marketplace.
Useful link:
www.paspaley.com
Over the last 50 years, the cultured pearl industry has undergone a significant transformation. It has changed from a period when Japanese and (later) South Sea cultured pearls were effectively the only cultured pearls in the marketplace to the situation today, where there are a large variety of cultured pearls available from many different localities and of many different types.
In the pre-culturing era, all oceanic (saltwater) pearls were classified as Oriental pearls, and South Sea pearls fell into this generic category. With the advent of pearl culturing, however, pearls became more accurately known for the type of oyster that produced them and the region in which those oysters grew—hence the term South Sea pearls.
Naturally occurring pearls from the Pinctada maxima oyster native to the South Seas have been traded for thousands of years. But in past centuries, many natural South Sea pearls were undoubtedly traded simply as Gulf pearls. Because of its spectacular nacre, the South Sea pearl oyster historically has produced some of the most significant natural pearls in the world. Therefore, it follows that this oyster ahs the ability to produce magnificent cultured pearls as well.
However, the competition for market share between gem producers as well as between different pearl types is fierce. At the same time, there are significant gaps in the expertise required to grow pearl oysters and conduct pearl farming compared to many other fields of knowledge. There are very few experts today who have a broad knowledge on a comprehensive range of pearl and pearl farming issues.
The challenge for the South Sea cultured pearl industry today is twofold: to produce pearls of a superior quality, on the basis of which they can be differentiated in the wider pearl market, and to improve the level of knowledge and understanding of pearls in the marketplace.
Useful link:
www.paspaley.com
A Moral Dimension
I wonder how many gem and jewelry companies can survive like the TaTas + Birlas given the restructuring, merging and bankruptcies in the industry. The TaTa and Birla business success story should be a case study for any aspiring entreprenuer.
Jay Dubashi writes:
Why is it that some businesses last a long time, sometimes centuries, while some don't? Take Tatas. They are a 150-year old group and still going strong. Scores of others have come and gone, some even bigger than Tatas but they have fallen by the wayside and vanished into thin air.
Businesses are essentially money-making enterprises. Money is what keeps them going. But money is not enough, nor is it everything. Money is to business what food is to living organisms. You cannot do without food, but you have to have something more to keep you going.
That something is a moral dimension, something bigger than you, or at a level much higher than money. Without such a dimension, you are just like a pig at the trough, using the trough as a sole reason for your existence.
Ghanashyam Das Birla always said that he was not a businessman. He was actually much more than a businessman. He was a political activist all his life, intensely interested in India's struggle for freedom and supported Gandhi through all his ups and down.This at a time when the British were closely watching him. In fact, GD Birla's close association with Gandhi so alarmed his brothers that there was a move at one time to split the family business and get rid of GD. But it does not seem to have bothered him.
It was the same with Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. Jamsetji set up his first industry, a textile mill, immediately after the so-called Mutiny, but what he wanted to do was something much bigger - a steel plant. But the British government in India was deadly opposed to Indians musling in on their monopoly.
Jamsetji received no help at all from the Britishers, and he had to take the help of Americans for his new enterprises. The steel plant at Jamshedpur was set up in the teeth of opposition from foreign vested interests, and it was this, not money, that drove Jamsetji. Incidentally, Tata Steel will be completing its centenary this year.
There were times during the depression of the thirties when it was touch and go whether Tata Steel would survive. There was no money in the kitty and things were so bad that at one time the Tatas have almost decided to close down the factory and go into liquidation. But Jamsetji's two sons and their wives saved the day.
GD Birla was so much involved in Gandhi's politics that at one time the Britishers were seriously thinking of shutting down his jute and cotton mills and throwing him into jail. Somehow he managed to survive, though his brothers were very much cut up with him and almost disowned him.
This is what I call moral dimension, when your drive comes not from money but something bigger than money. I once spent a whole evening with GD in his Delhi residence. He was then past eighty but as perky as ever. Throughout the evening, we did not even once mention business, though it was very much on the agenda. At one point, GD said that he was not a businessman. To call GD a mere businessman is tantamount to calling Gandhi a politician. In fact, Gandhi, a baniya, was more of a businessman than Birla, which is why they got on so well.
Take it from me. Half the businesses you see today will not make it beyond the half-way mark of the 21st century, if at all. But the Tatas and Birlas will still be there, because they are not really business as you and I know them.
More info @ http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/storyview.asp?str=10007
Jay Dubashi writes:
Why is it that some businesses last a long time, sometimes centuries, while some don't? Take Tatas. They are a 150-year old group and still going strong. Scores of others have come and gone, some even bigger than Tatas but they have fallen by the wayside and vanished into thin air.
Businesses are essentially money-making enterprises. Money is what keeps them going. But money is not enough, nor is it everything. Money is to business what food is to living organisms. You cannot do without food, but you have to have something more to keep you going.
That something is a moral dimension, something bigger than you, or at a level much higher than money. Without such a dimension, you are just like a pig at the trough, using the trough as a sole reason for your existence.
Ghanashyam Das Birla always said that he was not a businessman. He was actually much more than a businessman. He was a political activist all his life, intensely interested in India's struggle for freedom and supported Gandhi through all his ups and down.This at a time when the British were closely watching him. In fact, GD Birla's close association with Gandhi so alarmed his brothers that there was a move at one time to split the family business and get rid of GD. But it does not seem to have bothered him.
It was the same with Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. Jamsetji set up his first industry, a textile mill, immediately after the so-called Mutiny, but what he wanted to do was something much bigger - a steel plant. But the British government in India was deadly opposed to Indians musling in on their monopoly.
Jamsetji received no help at all from the Britishers, and he had to take the help of Americans for his new enterprises. The steel plant at Jamshedpur was set up in the teeth of opposition from foreign vested interests, and it was this, not money, that drove Jamsetji. Incidentally, Tata Steel will be completing its centenary this year.
There were times during the depression of the thirties when it was touch and go whether Tata Steel would survive. There was no money in the kitty and things were so bad that at one time the Tatas have almost decided to close down the factory and go into liquidation. But Jamsetji's two sons and their wives saved the day.
GD Birla was so much involved in Gandhi's politics that at one time the Britishers were seriously thinking of shutting down his jute and cotton mills and throwing him into jail. Somehow he managed to survive, though his brothers were very much cut up with him and almost disowned him.
This is what I call moral dimension, when your drive comes not from money but something bigger than money. I once spent a whole evening with GD in his Delhi residence. He was then past eighty but as perky as ever. Throughout the evening, we did not even once mention business, though it was very much on the agenda. At one point, GD said that he was not a businessman. To call GD a mere businessman is tantamount to calling Gandhi a politician. In fact, Gandhi, a baniya, was more of a businessman than Birla, which is why they got on so well.
Take it from me. Half the businesses you see today will not make it beyond the half-way mark of the 21st century, if at all. But the Tatas and Birlas will still be there, because they are not really business as you and I know them.
More info @ http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/storyview.asp?str=10007
De Beers Plans Massive Restructuring of Diamdel
Chaim Even-Zohar writes about De Beers restructuring + the Diamdel story, its past and present status @
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp?TextSearch=&KeyMatch=0&id=27378
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp?TextSearch=&KeyMatch=0&id=27378
Sunday, June 10, 2007
PearlParadise.com President Buys Chinese Akoya Pearl Farm
Jeremy Shepherd, president of PearlParadise.com says he has become the first American to own an Akoya pearl farm in Asia.
More info @ http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6450060.html?industryid=46016
More info @ http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6450060.html?industryid=46016
Apollo – the World’s Only Everlasting Diamond Mine
Chaim Even-Zohar writes about the scientists and the marketing people behind Apollo, a perpetual diamond mine, with a mining life that lasts forever, something no natural diamond mine can claim @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp?TextSearch=&KeyMatch=0&id=27340
Useful link:
www.apollodiamond.com
Useful link:
www.apollodiamond.com
Identifying Treated And Synthetic Gems: The Dealer’s Perspective
Robert Kane is a former staff of GIA and now a fine gemstone dealer. His views are valid today because today it's ninety five situaion: Transalation = ninety five percent of the dealers in the industry are not properly trained; only five percent is properly trained and continuously keep learning by taking refresher courses + attending seminars + workshops on new treatments, synthetics, imitations and new gem varieties. The amazing thing is most gem dealers are of the illusion that they don't need training; they are already successful by their own virtue, luck, connections, money + they think they know more about gemstones than a gemologist. The world has changed so dramatically that if you are living in the US or Europe you must always watch your back with plan B, C, or D because you don't want to get into legal problems, while in Asia, Africa and South America there are no binding consumer protection laws; at times it's like two blind walking the streeet situation. Buyer beware!
Robert Kane (President/CEO, Fine Gems International, USA) writes:
In gem treatments and synthetics, there have been more developments in the last 10 years than in the previous 50 combined. Since the 1999 Symposium, we have seen, for example, the commercial availability of (1) HPHT-treated diamonds in a variety of colors, (2) various colors of faceted synthetic gem-quality diamonds, (3) beryllium-diffused corundum, (4) poor-quality opaque corundum that has been transformed into transparent red gems by filling fractures with high-lead-content glass, and (5) diffusion ruby, which proved to be synthetic ruby overgrowth on natural corundum. It is critical that we identify and disclose these products if we are to maintain consumer confidence.
Although most of these treatments and synthetics are based on sophisticated technology, many can still be detected through precise gemological testing and observation. And when routine testing does not yield a definitive identification, major gemological laboratories can identify nearly all of them using advanced instrumentation. This presentation discusses approaches that members of the industry can take to deal with the constant influx of these new materials.
When examining a gem, the experienced gemologist systematically rules out the treatments and synthetics known for that particular stone. By running through a list of possibilities and how they are identified, one can identify the gem in question using standard observation and testing, or make an informed decision on a proper course of action, such as submitting the gemstone to an internationally respected gem laboratory for testing. The challenge is to recognize when the identification is beyond your knowledge level—to know when you don’t know.
By not facing these difficult issues, and thus buying and selling blindly, you open yourself and your company up to loss of reputation and to liability that could result in financial loss.
Gem Identify Assurance Program
One way to address these identification challenges is to develop a gem identity assurance program for your company based on gemological knowledge, trust in your suppliers, security through lab reports, and determining the level or risk that is acceptable in a given situation.
Gemological knowledge
Decades of scientific research by groups such as De Beers, GIA, and others have provided practical solutions to identification problems created by the proliferation of treated and synthetic gems. You can—and should—take advantage of this information by (1) regularly reading the gemological journals; (2) attending seminars held during trade shows such as at Tucson, Las Vegas, Basel, Bangkok, and Hong Kong; (3) taking specialized training at laboratories such as SSEF and AGTA; and (4) availing yourself of resources such as the De Beers CD-ROM Diamonds and books on specific topics—for example, GIA’s Gems & Gemology in Review: Synthetic Diamonds. There are also many educational programs available around the world to fit most needs.
There is no substitute for up-to-date gemological knowledge and solid experience. To this end, you should also consider purchasing your own gem-testing equipment, a portable lab, or-depending on your circumstances—a complete advanced gem testing laboratory.
Trust in your suppliers and financial resources
It is very important to buy gems from a trusted and knowledgeable supplier—one who will refund your money if testing reveals that the gem is not what it was represented to be. Always demand full disclosure regarding treatments and synthetics in writing on the invoice—if the seller will not comply, then find a new supplier. Buy from companies that belong to organizations such as ICA (International Colored Stone Association), AGTA (American Gem Trade Association), AGS (American Gem Society), TGJTA (Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association), WFDB (World Federation of Diamond Bourses), and the like. Members of such organizations must adhere to rules of ethical behavior, and the organizations can and will issue sanctions if these rules are violated.
Security through laboratory reports
Establish a company policy whereby all gems over a certain monetary value, or certain kinds of gemstones, must have a report from an internationally recognized gem lab. On expensive gems, obtain reports from at least two different labs. This is particularly important when geographic locality reports are required (because these determinations are not an exact science, the second lab may indicate a different origin, which case a third report is needed). Lab reports help protect you from future liability problems with your clients.
Risk tolerance
Determine what level of risk is acceptable. Certainly, the buying and selling of a 1ct purplish red diamond warrants an updated GIA lab report. Yet it may be reasonable to accept the word of your supplier (who knows the chain of custody and guarantees it in writing) when purchasing small amethysts, various colors of small sapphires, or parcels of emerald melee. Although you do run some risk that a mistake has been made, for most dealers the risk is manageable. Again, though, this depends on the specific situation. If a parcel of 2.0mm yellow sapphires are going into an expensive piece of jewelry featuring 200 such stones, testing (or at least spot-testing) would be required to ensure accurate representation of the entire piece.
Buying and Testing scenarios
Following are two examples of buying and testing situations.
Scenario 1
A large blue (synthetic) sapphire
A dealer is offered an 8ct superbly cut, clean, intense blue sapphire—set in an antique mounting—for $10000. However, it is not accompanied by a lab report. During very careful examination with a darkfield binocular microscope and diffused lighting, she sees subtle curved color zoning—proving that what appeared to be a magnificent natural gem was actually a flame-fusion or Verneuil synthetic sapphire. In 2005, a natural-color Sri Lankan sapphire of this size and apparent quality sold for $30000; a comparable Burmese sapphire sold for $55000. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Scenario 2
A 3+ ct Unheated Mogok ruby
One gem dealer offers another a 3+ carat ruby, accompanied by a report from a gem testing stating: Burma, no indication of thermal treatment. Microscopic examination revealed inclusions characteristic of untreated Mogok rubies, such as unaltered rutile needles and small calcite crystals. It also revealed a small fracture extending from the crown facets toward the girdle. The second dealer’s prospective buyer was willing to pay in excess of $100000 for the stone, but wanted a report from a certain US laboratory. That lab reported evidence of clarity enhancement—specifically, foreign material filling the surface reaching fracture, which is typically done in an attempt to reduce the fracture’s visibility. After the stone was soaked in acetone for several days (with the first dealer’s permission), the filler was no longer present, causing the fracture to become more prominent. The client was no longer interested in the ruby, and the gem dealer lost the sale. As mentioned above, with high value gems it is good to obtain reports from two different laboratories.
Navigating the challenges ahead
To maintain vitality and confidence in our industry, it is critical that we stay up to date on technological developments in gem synthesis, treatment, and identification. Learn what is in the market, how to identify it, and when to refer a gem to a recognized laboratory for advanced analytical testing. Buy from a trusted and experienced source. With expensive gems, this can be backed up by laboratory reports. The rapid advances in technology will inevitably bring challenges to the gem and jewelry industry—some will present positive opportunities, while many others will create daunting gem identification issues. Vigilance in pursuing knowledge will insure that our industry continues to flourish.
Robert Kane (President/CEO, Fine Gems International, USA) writes:
In gem treatments and synthetics, there have been more developments in the last 10 years than in the previous 50 combined. Since the 1999 Symposium, we have seen, for example, the commercial availability of (1) HPHT-treated diamonds in a variety of colors, (2) various colors of faceted synthetic gem-quality diamonds, (3) beryllium-diffused corundum, (4) poor-quality opaque corundum that has been transformed into transparent red gems by filling fractures with high-lead-content glass, and (5) diffusion ruby, which proved to be synthetic ruby overgrowth on natural corundum. It is critical that we identify and disclose these products if we are to maintain consumer confidence.
Although most of these treatments and synthetics are based on sophisticated technology, many can still be detected through precise gemological testing and observation. And when routine testing does not yield a definitive identification, major gemological laboratories can identify nearly all of them using advanced instrumentation. This presentation discusses approaches that members of the industry can take to deal with the constant influx of these new materials.
When examining a gem, the experienced gemologist systematically rules out the treatments and synthetics known for that particular stone. By running through a list of possibilities and how they are identified, one can identify the gem in question using standard observation and testing, or make an informed decision on a proper course of action, such as submitting the gemstone to an internationally respected gem laboratory for testing. The challenge is to recognize when the identification is beyond your knowledge level—to know when you don’t know.
By not facing these difficult issues, and thus buying and selling blindly, you open yourself and your company up to loss of reputation and to liability that could result in financial loss.
Gem Identify Assurance Program
One way to address these identification challenges is to develop a gem identity assurance program for your company based on gemological knowledge, trust in your suppliers, security through lab reports, and determining the level or risk that is acceptable in a given situation.
Gemological knowledge
Decades of scientific research by groups such as De Beers, GIA, and others have provided practical solutions to identification problems created by the proliferation of treated and synthetic gems. You can—and should—take advantage of this information by (1) regularly reading the gemological journals; (2) attending seminars held during trade shows such as at Tucson, Las Vegas, Basel, Bangkok, and Hong Kong; (3) taking specialized training at laboratories such as SSEF and AGTA; and (4) availing yourself of resources such as the De Beers CD-ROM Diamonds and books on specific topics—for example, GIA’s Gems & Gemology in Review: Synthetic Diamonds. There are also many educational programs available around the world to fit most needs.
There is no substitute for up-to-date gemological knowledge and solid experience. To this end, you should also consider purchasing your own gem-testing equipment, a portable lab, or-depending on your circumstances—a complete advanced gem testing laboratory.
Trust in your suppliers and financial resources
It is very important to buy gems from a trusted and knowledgeable supplier—one who will refund your money if testing reveals that the gem is not what it was represented to be. Always demand full disclosure regarding treatments and synthetics in writing on the invoice—if the seller will not comply, then find a new supplier. Buy from companies that belong to organizations such as ICA (International Colored Stone Association), AGTA (American Gem Trade Association), AGS (American Gem Society), TGJTA (Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association), WFDB (World Federation of Diamond Bourses), and the like. Members of such organizations must adhere to rules of ethical behavior, and the organizations can and will issue sanctions if these rules are violated.
Security through laboratory reports
Establish a company policy whereby all gems over a certain monetary value, or certain kinds of gemstones, must have a report from an internationally recognized gem lab. On expensive gems, obtain reports from at least two different labs. This is particularly important when geographic locality reports are required (because these determinations are not an exact science, the second lab may indicate a different origin, which case a third report is needed). Lab reports help protect you from future liability problems with your clients.
Risk tolerance
Determine what level of risk is acceptable. Certainly, the buying and selling of a 1ct purplish red diamond warrants an updated GIA lab report. Yet it may be reasonable to accept the word of your supplier (who knows the chain of custody and guarantees it in writing) when purchasing small amethysts, various colors of small sapphires, or parcels of emerald melee. Although you do run some risk that a mistake has been made, for most dealers the risk is manageable. Again, though, this depends on the specific situation. If a parcel of 2.0mm yellow sapphires are going into an expensive piece of jewelry featuring 200 such stones, testing (or at least spot-testing) would be required to ensure accurate representation of the entire piece.
Buying and Testing scenarios
Following are two examples of buying and testing situations.
Scenario 1
A large blue (synthetic) sapphire
A dealer is offered an 8ct superbly cut, clean, intense blue sapphire—set in an antique mounting—for $10000. However, it is not accompanied by a lab report. During very careful examination with a darkfield binocular microscope and diffused lighting, she sees subtle curved color zoning—proving that what appeared to be a magnificent natural gem was actually a flame-fusion or Verneuil synthetic sapphire. In 2005, a natural-color Sri Lankan sapphire of this size and apparent quality sold for $30000; a comparable Burmese sapphire sold for $55000. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Scenario 2
A 3+ ct Unheated Mogok ruby
One gem dealer offers another a 3+ carat ruby, accompanied by a report from a gem testing stating: Burma, no indication of thermal treatment. Microscopic examination revealed inclusions characteristic of untreated Mogok rubies, such as unaltered rutile needles and small calcite crystals. It also revealed a small fracture extending from the crown facets toward the girdle. The second dealer’s prospective buyer was willing to pay in excess of $100000 for the stone, but wanted a report from a certain US laboratory. That lab reported evidence of clarity enhancement—specifically, foreign material filling the surface reaching fracture, which is typically done in an attempt to reduce the fracture’s visibility. After the stone was soaked in acetone for several days (with the first dealer’s permission), the filler was no longer present, causing the fracture to become more prominent. The client was no longer interested in the ruby, and the gem dealer lost the sale. As mentioned above, with high value gems it is good to obtain reports from two different laboratories.
Navigating the challenges ahead
To maintain vitality and confidence in our industry, it is critical that we stay up to date on technological developments in gem synthesis, treatment, and identification. Learn what is in the market, how to identify it, and when to refer a gem to a recognized laboratory for advanced analytical testing. Buy from a trusted and experienced source. With expensive gems, this can be backed up by laboratory reports. The rapid advances in technology will inevitably bring challenges to the gem and jewelry industry—some will present positive opportunities, while many others will create daunting gem identification issues. Vigilance in pursuing knowledge will insure that our industry continues to flourish.
Major Diamond Mines Of The World: Tectonic Location, Production, And Value
Here is an insider view on the commercially important diamond deposits around the world. Many experts believe Botswana is the Kuwait of Africa, the rising super star, with no major tribal conflicts, relatively stable government except problems related to bushmen and their habitat. Canada is a newcomer with immense opportunities and difficulties due the landscape + the weather. Russia is trying to catch-up, but the politics and their way of doing business may have a lot of surprises for the diamond world. More to come.....
A J A (Bram) Janse (Archon Exploration Pty Ltd, Perth, Western Australia) writes:
The spatial distribution of the world’s major diamond mines is intimately related to the age of the earth’s crust. According to Clifford-Janse terminology, the three age-defined tectonic crustal elements are archons, protons, and tectons. At present, all diamond mines developed on kimberlite pipes are located within the boundaries of an archon, while those developed on lamproite pipes are located on a proton. Even though only one major diamond mine is underlain by lamproite pipe (the Argyle mine in Australia), several small diamond mines on lamproite pipes and other occurrences of diamond-bearing lamproites support this view. The figure also shows that major diamond mines largely cluster into three regions of the world: southern Africa, Siberia, and western Canada.
The tabulated data show Jwaneng in Botswana has the greatest current value and very high current production, followed by Udachnaya in Siberia, Orapa in Botswana, Ekati and Diavik in Canada, and Venetia in South Africa. The Argyle mine in Australia has a high production, but a low value. The most important producers for the next decade are likely to be Jwaneng, Orapa, Ventia, and Diavik, with Jubileynaya, Nyurba (Russia), Catoca (Angola), and Murowa (Zimbabwe) having slightly less importance. Argyle will continue to produce large quantities of near-gem material. The monetary values for the top six mines are in the same league as a major gold mine or a medium-sized oil field.
Date were also tabulated for seven advanced projects for which production is planned in the near future (although Jericho already commenced production in the first quarter of 2006, it is a small mine compared to Snap Lake). Victor is also small, but it has an extraordinary high value. Gahcho Kue is currently only a resource, not yet a proven reserve and only indicated reserves are available. Camafuca is an elongated pipe or the fusion of five pipes in a line underneath the bed of the Chicapa River, and it will be first operated by a five year dredging program.
The major mines of the future are Arkhangelskaya and Grib (both in Russia), but Grib’s opening is hampered by litigation. The Arkhangelskaya pipe will be the first of the Lomonosov cluster of five pipes to open in 2007.
A J A (Bram) Janse (Archon Exploration Pty Ltd, Perth, Western Australia) writes:
The spatial distribution of the world’s major diamond mines is intimately related to the age of the earth’s crust. According to Clifford-Janse terminology, the three age-defined tectonic crustal elements are archons, protons, and tectons. At present, all diamond mines developed on kimberlite pipes are located within the boundaries of an archon, while those developed on lamproite pipes are located on a proton. Even though only one major diamond mine is underlain by lamproite pipe (the Argyle mine in Australia), several small diamond mines on lamproite pipes and other occurrences of diamond-bearing lamproites support this view. The figure also shows that major diamond mines largely cluster into three regions of the world: southern Africa, Siberia, and western Canada.
The tabulated data show Jwaneng in Botswana has the greatest current value and very high current production, followed by Udachnaya in Siberia, Orapa in Botswana, Ekati and Diavik in Canada, and Venetia in South Africa. The Argyle mine in Australia has a high production, but a low value. The most important producers for the next decade are likely to be Jwaneng, Orapa, Ventia, and Diavik, with Jubileynaya, Nyurba (Russia), Catoca (Angola), and Murowa (Zimbabwe) having slightly less importance. Argyle will continue to produce large quantities of near-gem material. The monetary values for the top six mines are in the same league as a major gold mine or a medium-sized oil field.
Date were also tabulated for seven advanced projects for which production is planned in the near future (although Jericho already commenced production in the first quarter of 2006, it is a small mine compared to Snap Lake). Victor is also small, but it has an extraordinary high value. Gahcho Kue is currently only a resource, not yet a proven reserve and only indicated reserves are available. Camafuca is an elongated pipe or the fusion of five pipes in a line underneath the bed of the Chicapa River, and it will be first operated by a five year dredging program.
The major mines of the future are Arkhangelskaya and Grib (both in Russia), but Grib’s opening is hampered by litigation. The Arkhangelskaya pipe will be the first of the Lomonosov cluster of five pipes to open in 2007.
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