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Getting a Diamond
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| The Argyle Diamonds claims to be the largest diamond supplier in the world, accounting for one-quarter of the world's production. This mine in the remotest area of Western Australia is the largest open pit diamond mine in the world and in addition to top-quality gems, near gems, and industrial diamonds, produces almost the entire supply of natural pink diamonds. | |
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| You have to move a lot of earth of get to the good stuff ... And most of that earth-moving equipment is driven by women. Better safety records. Take THAT, gentlemen. | |
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| The company says 11 million tonnes of ore goes into the processing equipment each year....and 30 million carats of diamonds come out. |
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A small museum at the mine contains geologic displays, explanation of the diamond production process and examples of the mine's output, such as a bag of "run of the mine" diamonds of about 1 carat (above left) and the diamond found at Argyle, a 42.6 carat diamond (above right). They keep the giant in the museum at the mine for sentimental reasons ... and besides, it's not worth anything. It's only of industrial quality. |
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| Of course, no tour is complete without a trip to the gift shop. The diamond mine tour was no different. The "souvenirs" were just more expensive. | ||
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| The pilot who flew us to the mine gave a lesson in selecting diamonds. Then the ladies of the gift shop produced rings with Argyle mine diamonds. | ||
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