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Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-18 22:40:07

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The seam is mined by a controlled explosion and the so-called "blue rock" is brought to the surface. It is necessary to sieve more than a ton of such rock to obtain a single carat of stones. At Oranjemund, however, the process is different. There, the diamonds were formed in the white-hot crucible of pre-historic volcanoes which were active in this region until two million years ago. They were then washed down river and deposited in the ocean. The waves cast the diamantiferous gravel on the rocky cost and, over the centuries, buried these fluvial deposits with million of tons of sand. Oranjemund's diamonds are of exceptionally high quality. In most mines gems account for only one third of production; there the figure is 98 %.
The extraction technology was quite straightforward. Enormous "S 800" diggers able to shift 6000 tons of sand an hour removed the layer of sand, which in places was 20 meters deep, covering the diamantiferous below. 43 million tons of sand are removed every year by the diggers, which can fill three large lorries in a minute. Bulldozers then set to work breaking up the loose rock below. Lorries were at hand to carry the rock off to its final destination : the crushing plant. Every year 16 million tons are transported, more than any other quarry in the world.
The rocky detritus was reduced to small pieces by machinery. It was then made to flow along conveyor belts smeared with grease. Running water then washed away the last dirt. The greasy mass which remained was then melted and filtered, leaving the diamonds gleaming in the sieves.

In another area about twenty men were sweeping the uncovered loose rock. Their movements were precise. No wonder. Natural diamonds were to be found in this small patch of about 100 square meters. Found one! An old African raised his hand. The foreman, in charge of the sweeping party, bore down on him holding out a box. The box proved to be a special container which allowed the stone to be ...

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My youngest son was born in Oranjemund in 1972. We left there in 1974 having enjoyed all the facilities there at the time. Many a time my son has expressed a wish to return to his birth place, out of interest,To see his roots. There certainly was a high divorce rate there at that time, but we found it a friendly place. We left our Bull Terrier dog with one of the security families, & often wondered about him. He was called 'Buzzy' & the children missed him loads. Unfortunately the ill health of my mother lead to our return to the uk.A good move...Maybe ....who knows, it was a lovely rugged country, with good education for the younger children, fantastic health provision, & great opportunities to enhance ones status, carreer wise. We never kept in touch with anyone there, but no doubt they have all moved on by now. With the security still so very tight, I dont suppose my son James will ever fulfill his wish. It would be nice though.If there is a possibility, & anyone could help, we can be contacted via 'gsmith404@btinternet.com' Very interesting article.

Pat Smith, 2007-03-28 23:39:34