River Deposit Mining

River Deposit Mining

Diamonds are a brittle substance despite it's hardness.  It can shatter if struck by a sharp blow.  In nature, diamond minerals need to be tough enough to survive in and gravel deposits.  The minerals that are not tough enough to survive the continual shocks simply fracture, corrode away.  Diamonds survive extremely well in this natural process.

Dredging - Large scale suction dredger and all material is examined for diamonds.  Waste is discarded from the dredger into an area which already has been cleared.
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location. This technique is often used to keep waterways navigable.


Diverting Rivers - It is quite common in Africa to divert rivers to obtain alluvial diamonds.  A channel is cut from one bend to the other and the river is dammed at both ends of the 'oxbow'. The dammed area is pumped dry and the gravel is excavated and examined.