Chapter 4 Major Diamond-Producing Areas

Question 1

What you can say about landmasses in the long earth’s history?

Answer 1

Landmasses have moved constantly in the earth’s history.

Question 2

What place was earth 230 million years ago?

Answer 2

A different place, continents were joined in a supercontinent.

Question 3

How scientists called supercontinent that was 230 million years ago on earth?

Answer 3

Pangea

Question 4

How much of surface of planet was covered by Pangea continent?

Answer 4

Half of the planet, rest was ocean.

Question 5

What happened 80 million years after Pangea was created?

Answer 5

Pangea has separated into two landmasses: Laurasia and Gondwana.

Question 6

What happened later with Laurasia and Gondwana?

Answer 6

The two landmasses continued to move apart.

Question 7

What happened to Gondwana?

Answer 7

Gondwana broke into what became South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

Question 8

What happened to Laurasia?

Answer 8

Laurasia became North America, Europe and Asia (except India).

Question 9

What geologists find out by comparing North and South Americas to the continents across the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer 9

They discovered similar kinds of rocks and geologic structures.

Question 10

What ancient landmasses connections means to diamond explorers?

Answer 10

This means that for example Africa’s diamond fields were once connected to the diamond fields in Brazil, and in the north, recent Canadian diamond finds are mirrored in northern Russia.

Question 11

Where are most important diamond-producing areas found?

Answer 11

Africa, Australia, Eurasia, and North and South America.

Question 12

Where are historic viable sources were first discovered?

Answer 12

India, Brazil, and in South Africa.

Question 13

Which countries are the largest producer by value in $ and by volume?

Answer 13

Russia, Botswana, and Canada.

Question 14

Who has been the most important diamond-producing area for nearly a century and half since late 1800’s.

Answer 14

Africa

Question 15

Which area has world’s most diverse diamond sources, and why?

Answer 15

Africa due to its wide range of geological and geographical feature.

Question 16

Which country in Africa is one of the top three diamond-producing countries by value and volume?

Answer 16

Botswana.

Question 17

Which mine is the oldest one of Debswana operations?

Answer 17

Orapa

Question 18

When Orapa began its operation?

Answer 18

In 1971.

Question 19

Which mine and where is the world’s richest diamond mine in term of value?

Answer 19

Jwaneng.

Question 20

From which mines De Beers sources the majority of its diamonds?

Answer 20

From Orapa and Jwaneng mines in Botswana.

Question 21

Where are clustered diamond deposits in Africa?

Answer 21

Diamond deposits are clustered in Southern Africa, Central Africa, and the west coast of Africa.

Question 22

Name mine located in Angola?

Answer 22

Catoca mine

Question 23

Name mine located in Namibia?

Answer 23

De Beers Marine, Elizabeth Bay

Question 24

Name mines located in Botswana?

Answer 24

Orapa, Letlhakane, Jwaneng

Question 25

Name mines located in South Africa?

Answer 25

Venetia, Cullinan, Finsch

Question 26

What is famous for Cullinan mine?

Answer 26

It’s famous for its blue diamonds, the world’s largest rough diamond, and many important stones in British Crown Jewels.

Question 27

What is Letseng mine known for in Lesotho?

Answer 27

Its famous for consistent production of large diamonds.

Question 28

Name mines located in Lesotho?

Answer 28

Letseng mine.

Question 29

What kind of mines are found in Zimbabwe?

Answer 29

The country has both open-pit mines and alluvial diamond deposits.

Question 30

Name open pit mines in Zimbabwe?

Answer 30

RZM Murowa

Question 31

Who is operating in alluvial deposits in Zimbabwe?

Answer 31

It’s worked by local miners with simple tools.

Question 32

Which mine in Angola is most productive?

Answer 32

Catoca mine.

Question 33

Which countries in Africa are also diamond producers?

Answer 33

Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.

Question 34

Which country is marine diamond leading producer?

Answer 34

Namibia, nearly 70% of country’s production is recovered from the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 35

What kinds deposits are mostly found in Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo?

Answer 35

Alluvial deposits.

Question 36

Which mine in Australia was the most economically important?

Answer 36

Argyle mine

Question 37

Name mines in Australia?

Answer 37

Argyle (closed in 2020), Ellendale and Merlin

Question 38

Who was running Argyle mine?

Answer 38

Rio Tinto

Question 39

When Argyle mine began production?

Answer 39

In 1983?

Question 40

What kind of mining was made in Argyle mine?

Answer 40

Open-pit and underground mining operations.

Question 41

Do Lomonosov and Argyle mine are located on craton?

Answer 41

No, and it contradicted Clifford’s Rule.

Question 42

What caused Argyle’s mine closure to Australia’s diamond production?

Answer 42

Australia’s diamond production to drop by 99 precent.

Question 43

What for Ellendale mine famous for?

Answer 43

It once produced more than half of the world’s yellow diamonds.

Question 44

When Ellendale mine was developed?

Answer 44

In 1976

Question 45

Is Merlin mine is lamproite?

Answer 45

No it’s a kimberlite pipe and located in Northern Territory.

Question 46

When Argyle mine was converted to an underground mine?

Answer 46

In 2006

Question 47

What was the average size of rough from Argyle?

Answer 47

About 0.1 ct

Question 48

To which landmass was once connected the Americas landmass?

Answer 48

To Africa and Eurasia

Question 49

Which of Americas hosts some of the best diamond sources?

Answer 49

North America.

Question 50

Which country is considered one of the top 3 largest diamond-producing countries in terms of both value and volume?

Answer 50

Canada