Diamond Mining is very bad for the environment. Whether it is open pit, alluvial, marine, or underground mining, diamond mining uses and emits a tremendous amount of energy, causes massive land disturbance and severe erosion from the removal of soil, leads to silting of rivers, and has a detrimental impact on the biodiversity in surrounding areas. While the diamond industry has taken steps to address the environmental dangers inherent in all form of diamond mining, they have no way of enforcing standards to protect land from exploitation. In many countries mining companies are very transitional, they set quickly set up mines, hire workers, and collect diamonds then move on to the next site, without ever taking any steps to protect the land, communities, and people. These quickly established and poorly operated mines pollute water sources with deadly toxins making it unsafe for marine life and human consumption.

Sierra Leone, a country rife with war and famine epitomizes the devastating impact of diamond mining. In a study examining the impact of small mines (alluvial mining ranging from very rudimentary where miners sift through earth to find gems to use of excavators and water pumps), researchers reported that these mines not only removed commercially viable trees, they caused siltation in the river system, exposed miners and surrounding community members to parasitic diseases, and potentially increased exposure to malaria and other water borne diseases. Despite diamond mining's horrendous impact on their natural resources and people, Sierra Leone's mining sector officially accounts for over 90% of the country's export earnings--their trade is poorly regulated and deadly, yet it in Diamond Industrial Complex it remains highly profitable.

Sierra Leone is just one example of the environmental damage caused by diamond mining, throughout South America new unregulated and deadly diamond mines are emerging and wreaking environmental havoc. In September 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a story examining the booming and deadly diamond mining industry in Venezuela and neighboring countries, read it here.

The diamond industry's public relations machine has pumped the Internet with testimonial of responsible land and natural resource management and strict regulations under the United Nations Kimberly Process, but the fact is many countries and corporations are more interested in high profits and are ignoring and failing to comply with the industry's own standards. Despite the diamond mining industry claims to the contrary, diamond mining remains an extremely dangerous and unregulated threat to the environment.

This doesn't mean you can't have a beautiful diamond ring without the guilt of the destruction of the environment weighing on you. One of the best ways to have the diamond jewelery you've always wanted without degrading the environment is to buy a simulated diamond from a company like MiaDonna. Simulated diamonds, also referred to as man made diamonds don't harm the environment and if yet are just as beautiful as an earth mind diamond.

Brittany Taylor writes on fashion, culture and society.