Beyond its tragic history, rooted in years of war, this African country is known for its youthful population, with a cultural scene full of vibrant music and popular styles such as Semba and Kizomba. Visitors can be awed by the unique Baobab trees and the endangered Giant Sable. Now, the first field of diamonds in 30 years has been discovered, striking the jackpot after explorers hit a crucial rock. While this field holds great potential for the country’s economy, others may not be convinced of its benefits.
The history of a leader in an immortal industry
Lovers of timeless beauty and sparkle most likely have heard of the company called De Beers, as it is the world leader in its particular industry. Its origin dates back to the mid-1960s, when a major discovery was made on the De Beer farm in Kimberley, South Africa, rapidly expanding the area. Cecil Rhodes bought a claim to this mine in 1871, started obtaining the majority of the mines in the region.
In 1888, Rhodes established the De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd. In 1947, the ever-lasting iconic campaign with significant influence was born, namely “A Diamond is Forever.” The last major mine that was discovered and developed by De Beers in Africa, was South Africa’s Venetia mine in 1992, according to Mining Review Africa.
Now, word on the street is, another major mine has potentially been discovered in an African country, and together with a new partner, De Beers will start operations soon.
Striking a jackpot after hitting a rock that births diamonds
These extremely prestigious and highly-sought after gemstones are valuable for a reason. It takes extreme pressure and time for these brilliant, shining gemstones to form. According to The Cape Town Diamond Museum, this is how they are naturally formed:
- Extreme temperature and crushing pressure in the Earth’s mantle is required
- These conditons force pure carbon atoms into a tightly packed, crystalline lattice structure
- Over the course of millions to billions of years, these carbon deposits crystalize
- Deep-source volcanoes, known as kimberlites and lamproites, erupt and force magma and its diamonds deposits through pipes in the Earth’s crust
- Magma rapidly cools and bringings the diamonds to or near the Earth’s surface
What’s more, experts have discovered a new phase of matter inside diamonds. Now, a partnership between De Beers and Endiama, an Angolan national diamond company, announced that they discovered a kimberlite source in Angola, and have plants to explore the kimberlite in a joint effort. The partnership already drilled its first hole into a high-priority cluster of targets in July 2025.
The impact of diamond mining on an African nation
According to De Beers, this marks its first discovery of a new kimberlite field in 30 years. The partnership will continue drillling, ground geophysical surveys, and lab analysis over the coming months. This will help determine the type of kimberlite and its diamond potential. While this discovery could significantly boost the economy of this African nation, precautions must be taken.
According to the Wilson Center, the mining industry in Angola has historically shown little concern for the environment and land, progressing environmental degradation significantly. An example includes the pollution of the Lova River after a mine leak, which destroyed aquatic life and impacted surrounding communities dependent on the river.
The United Nations have argued that traditional mining in developing countries is not the solution to boosting economies. Integrating renewable energy sources into mining operations can mitigate environmental damage and be more cost-effective. Sunlight diamonds are becoming the most valuable gemstones ever, as they are renewable and still luxurious. Experts further argue that developing countries, should they obtain the necessary investment and technology, have significant potential for solar and wind power, and green hydrogen.