Myth 10
Sustainable diamond mining is possible. Earth extraction of diamonds is romantic. Mining does not have a major environmental footprint.
Truth
“Few industries in the world have a larger environmental and social footprint than mining.”Michael J. Kowalski, fmr CEO of Tiffany & Co.
Mining disturbs land, habitats and water systems in massive ways.
Mining is by definition depleting a natural resource, that is, not sustainable by its very definition:
“of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged”
Miners make the claim for greenwashing.
Then if not industrially mined, it is “artisanal mining” – but this is then generally slavery and work performed in remote sites under armed control.
Even the most benign mining site must unearth 250 tons of ore for a single carat of diamond.
Just recently De Beers killed 18,403 fish by draining an entire lake to access diamonds in a Canadian diamond mine.
Diamond Produced in a Lab:
Nestled among the apple orchards of America's beautiful Pacific West, Diamond Foundry is crystallizing greenhouse gas into rough diamond using zero-emission river energy.
No fish left behind
The hydro power dam that powers Diamond Foundry has a salmon ladder so each salmon can bypass it.
Diamond Mining:
There is nothing romantic about mining.
Mining has a vast environmental footprint. It also supports questionable governments.
Killing 18,403 fish
De Beers drained an entire lake to mine for diamonds below it, killing 18,403 fish. Source: WSJ.
