Everyone is familiar with the fact that diamonds are expensive and shiny — perfect to adorn necklaces, earrings, rings, and other luxury items you can think of. However, this precious stone has far more uses.
Mining Diamonds
First off, diamond is a naturally-occurring stone that comes from deep beneath the surface of the Earth. There, it is subjected to extremely high heat and pressure, a process that hardens it. Then, a volcanic eruption brings the diamond near the surface. A raw or rough diamond is encased in an igneous rock called Kimberlite.
There are several ways to mine diamonds. One, to look for Kimberlite that ended up on the surface through wind and rain. Two, through pipe mining (open-pit or underground).
To find Kimberlite through pipe mining, people have to drill boreholes on the ground. There are reaming shell suppliers, which is essential to the drilling system, specifically made for mining diamonds.
Not Just for Accessories
The stones that end up on pieces of jewelry are far more expensive and valuable, but those are rare. There is an abundance of diamonds that do not have the right color, size, clarity, or has flaws that do not end up in engagement rings. So what happens to them?
Industrial Use
One of the more common uses of diamonds is for industrial applications. Diamonds often end up as saws and drills utilized in the automobile, military, and mining industries. As diamonds are extremely tough, scoring a 10 in the Mohs Hardness Scale, they are added to equipment used to cut tough materials, including other diamonds. Diamonds are also used to cut and polish diamonds attached to pieces of jewelry.
Audio Equipment
Many audiophiles swear by the quality of speakers that are infused with diamonds. Because diamonds are hard, they can vibrate at higher speeds without the risk of damage. This, as people claim, improves the quality of sound.
Diamonds are also used as needles for record players. They are considered far superior to sapphires, which are also commonly used for record needles, because the latter only has a score of nine on the Mohs Hardness Scale. A sapphire record needle is expected to provide between 75 and 100 hours of quality audio. A diamond record needle can last to up to 10 times longer.
Health
One surprising use of diamonds is in medicine. There is now increasing evidence that diamonds can be used to treat certain diseases, including cancer. In a previous study, scientists found that nanodiamonds, which are a thousand times smaller than a strand of hair, can help determine whether a medication is effective. The stone’s reflective properties, according to scientists, allow doctors to monitor the cellular processes that occur when a cancer patient takes cancer drugs. Moreover, diamonds can be used in manufacturing low-cost yet effective medical equipment.
Beauty
Diamonds, in their fine powder form, have found their way into skincare. Famous celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez swear by using beauty products infused with diamond powder as exfoliators to remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of sun damage. A diamond may also promote moisture and collagen production of the skin, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles.
Diamonds are popular for their sparkle, but the stone is far more ordinary and ubiquitous in our lives than many might think. While not as expensive, diamonds for use in other industries are equally as valuable.