Russia reveals the world's largest diamond reserve
According to a report published by Gizmodo, Russian geologists have just revealed that they have the largest diamond reserve on the planet, possessing more rocks than all the other mines in the world combined.
It is a crater formed by an asteroid shock in northern Siberia 35 million years ago that created an impact area of nearly 100 kilometers in diameter. Experts believe the crater is likely to have trillions of carats of diamonds, enough to supply the market for three thousand years. That's right, three thousand years !
According to a publication by The Verge, these diamonds are especially valuable because they were formed by the impact of an asteroid on a carbon-rich area. And although they can't be used as jewelry - what a disappointment! -, they are extremely important thanks to their industrial applications.
Technological diamonds
As geologists have explained, these unique rocks, known as impactites, are twice as hard as normal diamonds, and are especially appreciated for the size of their particles and their abrasive characteristics.
Although the crater was discovered in the 1970s, according to ITAR-TASS, Russia seems to have waited for the appropriate time to reveal this closely guarded secret. By the time the reserve was found, the Russians were already making enough money from producing synthetic diamonds and, as the market was tightly regulated, it was worth keeping a secret and waiting. Wise decision!
At present, diamonds are increasingly being used by the technology industry, and there is a tendency for more devices and innovations - such as the use of lasers and the nuclear fusion process - to depend on these rocks. Now the Russians are in a very favorable position in the market and can even control world demand for this unique material.
Sources: Gizmodo, ITAR-TASS and The Verge
