MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Kimberlite rocks found in Antarctica could mean the territory is rich in diamonds
The prospect that Antarctica could be rich in diamonds was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, following the discovery by a team of a telltale rock called kimberlite in the Prince Charles Mountains in East Antarctica. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesPlease note, argies, this particular part of Antarctica, named in honour of the eldest son of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, is not yours.
Dec 18th, 2013 - 10:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0British.....
Dec 18th, 2013 - 12:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I can picture CFK making up a story to lay claim to this part of Antarctica.
Dec 18th, 2013 - 01:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Won't do them any good. Not only is mineral extraction prohibited by International treaty, but there's a good chance that none of the Kimberlites have anything economic.
Dec 18th, 2013 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Antarctic is managed through the Antarctic Treaty System & the specific treaty is the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, signed in Madrid in 1991. Most of the South American states have signed.
Kimberlites are basically a volcano that formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Most of them are eroded by glaciation, or other geological action, leaving a 'pipe' of Kimberlite rock going downwards.
Kimberlite is an igneous greenish/blueish rock. When the original volcano erupted, it carried the diamonds up in the magma, but the eruption ceased, the volcano cooled and the diamonds were left trapped in the rock.
Glacial action erodes away the surface rock and carries diamonds with it. A prospector can usually find the kimberlite in the water course & if there are diamonds, some loose alluvial ones.
The easiest way to find Kimberlites is for a prospector with a bucket and spade to walk over geologically suitable ground. However, these days most are found using an aircraft towing a magnetometer. Kimberlites also have a distinctive magnetic signature, due to their volcanic past.
Since prospectors would have a difficult time finding the ground through miles of glacial ice, it would be far easier to use the aircraft. Only problem is that it would be expensive to prospect over Antarctica.
I cannot see any country seeking to exploit these kimberlites, but there might be some scientific exploration & a few of the scientists might take samples home (for the wife's ring) if anything good is found.
Argentina can give up any hope of exploiting this find. No other nation will benefit either. Only a few scientists.
Australian :-)
Dec 18th, 2013 - 02:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0[4]
Dec 18th, 2013 - 06:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0to be fair, at that legal stuff or treaties are meaningless to CFK,
she makes her own rules , laws and agreements , and changes them on a whim...lol...
I wonder if Argentina has a botox shortage currently....
Dec 18th, 2013 - 08:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What you giys suffer from is called obsession and it can be treated...
Dec 18th, 2013 - 11:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!