Bryson Burke Diamond Corporation: Diamond Exploration and Mining in Canada

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CONFLICT DIAMONDS

UNICEF / HQ96-0566 Giacomo Pirozzi
United Nations General Assembly Adopts Resolution
on "Conflict Diamonds"

Crucial Issue in Fuelling Wars
On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts (A/RES/55/56). In taking up this agenda item, the General Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa, and underscored that legitimate diamonds contribute to prosperity and development elsewhere on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), both of which are acting in contravention of the international community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries.

What is a Conflict Diamond?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate 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 Security Council.

"It has been said that war is the price of peace… Angola and Sierra Leone have already paid too much. Let them live a better life."
Ambassador Juan Larrain, Chairman of the Monitoring Mechanism on sanctions against UNITA.

How can a conflict diamond be distinguished from a legitimate diamond?

A well-structured 'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.

Australia

Africa

Angola

Botswana

Namibia

South Africa

Sierra Leone

Canada

Russia

This seventeen-year-old lost both hands to rebels’ machetes.
Waterloo camp, Sierra Leone, 1998.

What are diamonds made of? How are they related to volcanism? What are indicator minerals?

Mines - Troubles in Angola

Economic Causes of Civil Conflict

UN and Conflict Diamonds
Global Policy Forum on Conflict Diamonds

Diamonds were first discovered in Angola in 1913 and the major identified resources to date are located in the remote Lunda Norte province near the boarder with Zaire. Angolan diamonds are found in two areas, alluvial diamonds, which are washed out from volcanic pipes known as kimberlites, and kimberlite pipes. Kimberlite diamond mining is the most profitable area for large scale mining and to date more than 600 such pipes have been discovered. However, the cost of Kimberlite mining is great and therefore large mining companies have been reluctant to undertake such investments considering Angolaþs volatile economic and political history. The countriesþ diamond reserves are considered extensive and particularly marketable with approximately 70% classified as gem quality, 20% as near gem quality and only 10% as industrial.