History of Diamond Mining in Africa.ppt

Diamonds are Forever? Case Study of Diamond Mining in Africa and Consumer Demands Group A Diamonds in American Society What do diamonds represent? Two Main Points: Diamonds are not inherently valuable, but have socially constructed meanings What we think about diamonds, and what diamonds represent are very closely monitored by the diamond industry, and are often solely constructed by that industry. Myth: Diamonds are rare jewels Fact: Diamonds are abundant Fact: Diamond corporations use a tactic called “managed scarcity” to limit the number of diamonds on the market, making them appear to be rare, when in fact they are not Why do diamonds represent love and marriage? Because the industry created this association. Diamonds are not only a visual indicator of socioeconomic status, but also serve to separate people based on the lines of gender, sexuality, and race… Marketing of Diamonds Diamonds have different meanings for men than they do for women Diamond ads foster stereotypes about women They are shallow They can be bought They are both proper, and highly sexual Diamonds in the media are consistently worn by heterosexuals In this way, the diamond industry perpetuates the phenomenon of compulsory heterosexuality Diamonds perpetuate racialized meanings of whiteness Diamonds in Advertising Diamond Mining and the Environment A Brief Geology Lesson Diamonds are formed deep in the earth and carried upward, amid vast quantities of magma, in very forceful volcanic eruptions. Location of Mines Pipe Mining The most common type of diamond deposit is known as a primary deposit and usually occurs near a volcanic pathway connecting Earth’s deep mantle to its surface, known as a “pipe” Pipe mining refers to the extraction of diamonds from volcanic pipes. Typically, a very large area has to be covered. An average of 250 tons of ore must be mined in order to produce a one-carat gem quality polished diamond. Alluvial Mining Diamonds are also found in secondary