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Top five diamond mining countries of Africa profiled
Summary
This article is about the top five diamond mining countries in Africa. It discusses Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Namibia and the individual mines and their contributions to the countries’ GDP. It also mentions the history of diamond mining in Africa and the significant discoveries in each of the countries. Finally, the article outlines the volume and value of diamond production in each of the countries in 2016.
Q&As
What countries are the top diamond mining countries in Africa?
Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Namibia.
What percentage of diamonds does the USA purchase?
The USA purchases more than 40% of all stones.
What is the largest diamond ever found in Africa?
The world's second-largest diamond, larger than a tennis ball and 1758 carats, was discovered in the Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana.
How much was Africa's diamond exports valued at in 2017?
Africa's diamond exports were valued at $9.65bn in the global market in 2017.
What partnership operates the Catoca mine in Angola?
The Catoca mine in Angola is operated by Sociedade Mineira de Catoca, a joint venture between Angola’s state-owned diamond company Endiama, Russia-based Alrosa and Chinese company Lev Leviev International.
AI Comments
👍 This article provides an excellent overview of the top diamond mining countries in Africa. It is comprehensive and provides lots of helpful facts and figures.
👎 This article does not adequately address the ethical and environmental concerns that come with diamond mining in Africa. It is important to be aware of the potential negative impacts of the industry.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about the top five diamond mining countries in Africa. Botswana, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Namibia are all included.
Friend: Wow, that's really interesting. What implications does this article have?
Me: Well, the article highlights that diamond mining has been a lucrative industry in Africa since the 1870s. It also highlights the economic benefits of the industry, as diamonds from African countries accounted for nearly 10 billion dollars in exports in 2017. The article also touches on the darker side of diamond mining, such as conflict diamonds in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how this can negatively affect the country's economy. Finally, the article also mentions how diamond production and sales can drive economic growth in countries like Botswana and Namibia.
Action items
- Research the diamond mining industry in Africa further to gain a better understanding of the industry.
- Reach out to diamond mining companies in Africa to learn more about their operations and the challenges they face.
- Investigate the impact of diamond mining on the environment and local communities in African countries.
Technical terms
- Gem-quality stones
- Stones that are of a high enough quality to be used in jewelry.
- Diamond crystals
- Crystals of the mineral diamond, which is the hardest known natural material.
- De Beers
- A diamond mining company founded in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes.
- Debswana Diamond Mining Company
- A partnership between the Botswana government and De Beers.
- Kimberley Process
- An international certification system that regulates the trade of rough diamonds.
- Catoca Mine
- A diamond mine in Angola operated by Sociedade Mineira de Catoca.
- Lulo Mine
- A diamond mine in Angola owned by Lucapa Diamond Company.
- Bakwanga and Forminiere Diamond Mine
- Two diamond mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Conflict diamonds
- Diamonds mined in war zones and used to finance armed conflicts.
- Cullinan Diamond
- The world’s largest diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905.
- Venetia, Finsch and Kimberley Mines
- Three diamond mines in South Africa.
- Orange River Diamond Mines and Alexander Bay Marine Mining
- Two diamond mines in Namibia owned by Namdeb.
- Debmarine Namibia
- A company that manages offshore diamond mines in Namibia.