Only 10 % of natural diamonds end up in jewelry stores. What happens to the others? See more about Industrial diamonds – indispensable in the making of tools and diamond polishers.

In 2010 133 million carats of natural diamonds were mined all over the world. Only few of them, purest and greatest, become gems, while others were used for the production of exclusive tools in modern metalworking, mining industries, subtle and extremely durable tools for multiple usage.
This utility is not surprising having in mind that diamond is the hardest natural material known on Earth and it may be used for treatment of all other substances, including other diamonds. Diamonds are suitable for drilling, grinding and polishing of materials that can not be handled by any other metal or mineral. You can find it in metal-cutting instruments or in small grains as part of diamond polishers.
Industrial diamonds are mined among the others in “Diamond pipes” around the world. Later, the yield is separated by its quality, size and color. Lower in quality by structure or color or too small in size, most of them go to industrial usage. Even the smallest parts of diamond, as part of diamond polishers, are used in number of precise manipulations:
– reducing and shaping ceramic and metal.
– smoothing ceramic and metal.
– high-lustre of ceramic and metal
It is important to note that in 1960 scientists were able to produce the first synthetic diamond. Nowadays approximately 5,000 million carats of synthetic diamonds are produced per year. Almost 100% of this production goes for Industrial needs. Synthesized diamonds are very high in quality, but their production is too expensive. Therefore, it is mostly made for the specific needs of technology where certain qualities are required.
Generally natural Industrial Diamonds have 3 varieties: Ballas, Bort and Carbonado.
1. Ballas is extremely hard and it mined mostly from Brazil and South Africa.
2. Bort is easily distinguishable by its black color and its main resources are in Congo (Kinshasa).
3. Because of its stability as structure Carbonado is most valuable for use in diamond-set tools, instruments for cutting rock and other hard materials. You can find it in small masses over the world – Bahia, Brazil, Borneo, South Africa and Russian Siberia.
Compared to gem-quality industrial diamonds are really cheap. For example in 2011 the cost of the first type was $210 per ct. while for industrial one the price was $7.7 per ct.
Today, diamonds are far from being just an expensive decoration. This stone is doing hard work in the most complex and heavy industries worldwide. It is indispensable to mining, metal industry, the cutting of stone and metal, and diamond polishing of delicate and hard surfaces. In the world, there is no other material that can resist its power.

Diamond mines in Jakutia, Russia.