Diamonds are recovered by way of pipe          or alluvial mining. Pipe          Mining Pipe mining refers to the extraction of diamonds          from volcanic pipes. Typically, a very          large area has to be covered. An average          of 250 tonnes of ore must be mined in          order to produce a one-carat gem quality          polished diamond. In          most countries, a diamond pipe mine          is composed of kimberlite, or blue ground.          Initially kimberlite is dug from the          surface of the pipes in rough opencast          mining. Once the surface deposits have          been exhausted, shafts are sunk into          the ground at the edge of the pipes,          and tunnels are driven into the deeper          parts of the pipes. After the diamond-bearing          rock is brought to the surface, it is          then transported to a screening plant          where the diamonds are separated from          the host rock. 
 
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