The biggest diamond-producing mine in the world is the Jwaneng diamond mine in Botswana. It is owned by Debswana, a 50/50 joint venture between the government of Botswana and the South African diamond company De Beers.
The mine is said to be responsible for around 15 percent of the world’s total diamond production.
The Jwaneng mine has been operating since 1982 and employs between 3,000-4,000 people. It is located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the capital city of Gaborone. The mine is set in a kimberlite pipe, which uses open-pit and underground mining techniques to excavate diamonds from the earth.
It is the world’s richest diamond mine in terms of value produced per year, estimated to be worth close to $3 billion USD.
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Which country is No 1 in diamond production?
The country that is currently number one in diamond production is Russia. In 2017, Russia produced 34. 1 million carats of diamonds, accounting for 23% of the total world production. This is by far the most of any other country, with the runner up, Botswana, producing just 16.
9 million carats in 2017. In addition to being a major producer of diamonds, Russia is also the leading exporter of diamonds to the global market, responsible for over 27% of all global exports.
What family owns all the diamonds?
No single family owns all of the diamonds in the world; instead, many different companies and individuals own a portion of them. The largest diamond producers are De Beers, Alrosa, and Rio Tinto, which together produce about 75 percent of the total global supply.
These producers control the market through refining, marketing, and exploration, and it is estimated that they possess about $200 billion in diamonds in their reserves. Some of the world’s largest individual diamond owners include Shah Jahan, an Indian Mughal emperor who built the iconic Taj Mahal, as well as the Rockefeller and Oppenheimer families, who were some of the founders of De Beers.
In addition, numerous South African Diamond experts and miners, who are descendants of the 19th-century Voortrekkers, have obtained million-dollar-plus diamonds from the kimberlite pipes in their local areas.
Many royal families and celebrities also possess notable diamond pieces.
Can the world run out of diamonds?
Yes, it is possible for the world to run out of diamonds at some point in the future. Although diamonds are one of the most abundant gemstones in the world, their extraction and availability depend on numerous factors that are constantly fluctuating, such as the demand for diamonds, their pricing, and the availability of diamond-extraction technology.
Furthermore, the major source of diamonds is limited and finite. Currently, more than half of the world’s diamonds are produced by mines in countries such as Botswana, Canada, and Russia. As these supplies slowly deplete, it is possible Diamonds could become scarce over time.
This could be compounded by the increasing demand for diamonds worldwide. As the cost of living rises, the diamond industry is expected to grow as more people look to luxury items such a diamond jewelry to express their status.
It is estimated that the demand for diamonds will likely increase over the next decade, which could accelerate their depletion.
Overall, while diamonds are currently abundant and will likely be so in the near future, their future availability is uncertain. We may eventually reach a point where certain kinds of diamonds could become scarce or even entirely depleted, depending on how the demand and extraction technologies continue to evolve.
How many diamonds are left in the earth?
It is impossible to say with any certainty how many diamonds are left in the earth; estimates vary widely. According to an article by the BBC, the total global diamond production is around 130 million carats per year, but over 40% of this comes from a single country—Russia.
It has been estimated that over 95% of the diamonds ever mined have already been extracted. The vast majority of diamond deposits are located in Russia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Australia, Canada, and South Africa.
According to the US Geological Survey, there are more than 55,000 known diamond deposits in the world, but it is estimated that fewer than 3,000 are actively being mined. Thus, much of the diamond wealth that is still in the ground remains to be discovered.
One factor that complicates assessing the amount of diamonds left in the earth is that it is difficult to accurately estimate the size of a diamond deposit until extraction begins. As a result, when it comes to the amount of diamonds that remain in the earth, estimates can vary widely.
