ProjectB1

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Project B1: African Diamond Genesis and Craton Evolution: Exploring new ways to characterise conflict diamonds

French pi: P. Cartigny (with S. Gilder and C. Aubaud)
South African pi: M. de Wit (with S. Richardson and D. Bell)

Project Participants

  • France: Pierre Cartigny, IPG-Paris
  • South Africa: Maarten de Wit, Steve Richardson, Cape Town
  • Germany: Stuart Gilder, Munich; Michael Wiedenbeck, Potsdam
  • Exploration Industry: Mike de Wit, Hielke Jelsma, Kinshasa and Johannesburg.

Introduction

Diamonds known as conflict diamonds, otherwise known as blood diamonds, originate from the war zones of Africa, and specifically from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the United Nations Security Council. On December 1, 2000 the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution defining the role of conflict diamonds with the intent of cutting-off the sources of funding for rebel forces and to help shorten the wars and prevent their recurrence through breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict (from: David Cowley, 2007. What Are Conflict Diamonds?(http://www.articlemarketer.com).

In May 2000, the diamond producing/trading industry took the first steps to develop a plan that could halt the trade of conflict diamond by establishing a way that diamonds could be certified, and created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Yet, governments want the KPCS to be monitored with more transparency and certainty to identify the place of origination of the diamonds. For example, Canada is a major diamond producer, and being member of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and (among others) is particularly concerned in regulating the legal diamond industry. Europe is the strongest partner of most African countries because they are a major donor or aiding development in third world countries and is thus concerned in solving conflicts in this part of the world. The fact that the European Commission assumes duties as Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2007 is a further reason why Europe is particularly concerned in monitoring the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The benefits to countries that put an end to trading in conflict diamonds are immense and it could mean better economic development and prosperity throughout Africa. Yet, resourceful and unscrupulous groups still manage to elude the legal barriers and still find ways of infiltrating the diamond centers of the world.

Although this list is not exhaustive and will likely change trough time, the main countries concerned so far by this resolution are: Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic. In terms of geology, these diamonds originate largely, but not exclusively, from two regions, namely the West and Central Africa Shields.

The question asked of scientists is either How can a conflict diamond be distinguished from a legitimate diamond; or [and this is not the same question] how can conflict diamonds be distinguished from legitimate diamonds?