36. Two Facets of Diamonds

Diamonds have long captured the imagination and interest of people across the globe. Each stone has a unique story to tell, and those stories are only becoming deeper and more fascinating with the latest advancements in geoscience, social science and consumer activism.  This week’s episode looks at two different facets of diamonds.  Evan Smith is a Senior Research Scientist at the Gemological Institute of America. He introduces us to superdeep diamonds, a small subset of diamonds produced globally that have both exceptional monetary and scientific value, especially when it comes to learning about processes that operate deep inside Earth’s mantle.  Gemological Institute of AmericaAbout 2 million women and men globally are involved directly in mining for diamonds, primarily at artisanal and small-scale (ASM) operations. Cristina Villegas is Director of Sustainable Markets at Pact, a Washington D.C. based NGO. She sets out how ASM today contrasts with the often-tainted picture from popular fiction and discusses recent innovations involving the ASM and big-business community that are bringing life-changing, positive transformations millions of diamond miners around the world.Pact - Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining  Theme music is Confluence by Eastwindseastwindsmusic.comCome join us in Salt Lake City, Utah for SEG 2026, September 30th to October 3rd. You can expect world-class technical content, including iconic ore deposits and the geological processes of North American Cordillera. The program balances applied case studies, framework geology, and technological innovation. The conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the future of economic geology. See you there.