The main subject of Barren Lands is the discovery of diamonds in Canada's Northwest Territories. Along the way, it describes the history and geography of the far north, the history and geology of diamonds, and the dirty business of mining speculation. It also tells the story of one small-time prospector who managed to make the big strike.
I was surprised to learn how little we knew about how diamonds formed or how to find a mine. It was truly a matter of trial and error until within my lifetime! Most of the world's diamonds come from a very small number of viable mines. The De Beers consortium happens to own the most productive of them, which (combined with shady business practices) gives them the upper hand in the industry.
The author is a science journalist, so the explanations of geology and geography were very clear. I loved learning about cratons and eskers. On the other hand, I was disappointed that Krajick didn't provide the same level of insight to the diamond prospecting business. He lists all of the complicated business dealings and lawsuits that followed from discovering the mines at Lac du Gras, but missed the opportunity to provide context for it. More generally, I'd say that the writing became more superficial as the narrative picked up steam, with Part IV feeling rushed compared to the rest of the book.
I was surprised to learn how little we knew about how diamonds formed or how to find a mine. It was truly a matter of trial and error until within my lifetime! Most of the world's diamonds come from a very small number of viable mines. The De Beers consortium happens to own the most productive of them, which (combined with shady business practices) gives them the upper hand in the industry.
The author is a science journalist, so the explanations of geology and geography were very clear. I loved learning about cratons and eskers. On the other hand, I was disappointed that Krajick didn't provide the same level of insight to the diamond prospecting business. He lists all of the complicated business dealings and lawsuits that followed from discovering the mines at Lac du Gras, but missed the opportunity to provide context for it. More generally, I'd say that the writing became more superficial as the narrative picked up steam, with Part IV feeling rushed compared to the rest of the book.
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