2006-11-28 15:18:20 · 5 answers · asked by T I 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Naturally this depends on what type "dirt" you are sifting. Diamonds are typically only found in certain types of "dirt". The most common type of diamond-containing material is a clay mineral called Kimberlite, sometimes found in tube-like structures associated with volcanic activity. Your chances at finding a diamond will also increase if you are sifting "dirt" that once was at great depth underground, where geo-pressure was high enough to create the crystal. If you are sifting "dirt" from, for instance the California desert, pack a lunch. You'll be at it a while
2006-11-28 16:01:50 · answer #1 · answered by trucktrout 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The number of diamonds present in kimberlite rock or river gravels varies from place to place.
At the Argyle mine in Australia, the kimberlite is rich and has many diamonds. Lets say the grade there is 1 carats per tonne of rock. Processing 100 tonnes would give about 1 diamond of one carat size.
In other areas of the world, in gravels, the grade may be only say 0.1 carats per tonne in which case around say 1,000 tonnes of gravel would need to be processed to recover 1 diamond of one carat size.
Not all diamonds are good quality and a 1 carat diamond can just as likely be poor quality and not worth much.
To process 1,000 tonnes of gravel would cost about $10,000 , so you can see diamond mining is like any other business. If the diamonds can be mined at a profit, they will be mined. If not they will just stay in the ground.
2006-11-29 02:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes none ,some were found on top of the dessert in Namibia
others can be in what is known as a chimney,
or a bull dozer can shift 100 tons to find a couple
there is not general rule
you should have asked how much rock has to be pulvorised to yield one ounce of gold.
or how much mud has to be sifted to find a gold nugget
and dont ask me ,i dont know
2006-11-29 00:12:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diamonds are not actually that rare, it's the market is extremely controlled and then hyper inflated by the jeweler.
I mean it's smashed and heated carbon, and since that is easily within the top 5 most abundant materials on the planet, there has to be alot.
And if your lucky, no dirt need be sifted, you find it =-))
2006-11-28 23:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by devinthedragon 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
500,000 tons
2006-11-28 23:21:16 · answer #5 · answered by Bleeble Blabble 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋