Diamonds were created around 3.3 Billion years ago and were formed at least 90 miles below the earth’s surface in the mantle; they are created when carbon is highly pressurized and exposed to temperatures of at least 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (Diamonds). Diamonds are carried to the earth’s surface if a volcanic eruption occurs and carries bits of the diamond containing mantle (kimberlite) to the surface through volcanic pipes (see example #1 below). Diamonds are thus found on the earth’s surface in the kimberlite or if the kimberlite erodes, then the diamonds can be found in river sediment. This process is the primary way that diamonds are formed.
Scientists have also hypothesized that diamonds are formed in two other possible ways. One way is that asteroid collisions can cause the formation of diamonds; diamonds have been found around asteroid sites and researchers believe the high pressure and temperature of the impact created the diamonds (Diamonds). NASA researchers have also found nanodiamonds in meteorites located in space. They believe these diamonds were created from high speed collisions similar to that of the asteroid hitting the earth (Diamonds). These two processes are not the primary ways that diamonds are formed, but they are a possibility.
Environmentally, this process is putting a rare mineral accessible in the earth’s crust. The diamonds are no longer unreachable in the earth’s mantle; they are now accessible to people that want to find it. Socially, companies seeking diamonds now know to look around sources of past volcanic eruptions. This has increased competition and the urgency to find these diamond rich locations before other countries do. Once the companies find a potential location of diamonds, they set up base and begin extracting the diamonds for their own personal use.
Example #1: how diamonds are formed:
Photo Source: Caprice Diamond & Jewelry