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Diamond mining is becoming environmentally friendly
Diamond mining has always been associated with the risk and led to terrible losses like human lives and the environment.
But now the lab grown gems, which are as pure as natural. But in the process of production of carbon five times less than usual.
This could provide a viable alternative to the current resource-intensive method of production.
Despite the fact that the artificially obtained crystals of a smaller size than natural, labs do not require forced child labor in the production process of diamonds.
Still, artificial stones account for only 2 percent of the world's jewelry market, but they have the potential to make unnecessary the traditional way of production.
Already there are a considerable quantity ethically and environmentally conscious companies
such as Deluxe Diamonds and Gemesis. Their jewelry begin to grown in special vats with a tiny
diamond "seed" that is placed in a carbon rich environment.
The gemstone grows atom by atom, until it is completely formed in the diamond. Some of these laboratory samples are applying for the status of "type IIa", which is the purest form of diamond in nature.
With regard to the impact on the environment, a graduate of Stanford University, a study was conducted comparing the energy intensity of mined diamonds from the canadian mine Billiton'BHP's Ekati mine,
compared to those that are lab created Gemesis.
In the process of diamond production in the laboratory is less than one-fifth of carbon dioxide emissions compared to the production in the mine.
If you close the mine Billiton'BHP's Ekati mine and to establish in the laboratory the production of equivalent amounts of diamonds, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced just tremendously every year about the same number would produce the car, driving 483 million miles.
Many are advocating for more responsible production, with the support of different campaigns,such as "No dirty gold". But the problem is that the mining industry is tied huge capital. You also need to consider that some communities in Africa simply do not have other sources of income, and are forced to work in the mines. At the moment, these factors dominate the factors of human rights and ecological balance. However, lab-grown diamonds can offer a brilliant and environmentally friendly alternative.
Source: www.ecobyt.ru/