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The world of pipes is perhaps even more diverse than the world of bongs, hookahs and other smoking devices. The small size allows you to experiment with material, design and invent models, both practical and completely eccentric. In this article we will try to structure all the samples we have accumulated and highlight the types of smoking pipes so that your choice is informed and easy.

Pipes NOT for tobacco

Of course, we are not talking about the classic pipes with which they puff near a burning fireplace with a glass of their favorite strong drink, as Sherlock loved to do. The tobacco pipe has a completely different shape, the materials for its manufacture are not so diverse, and although we have some, this is a completely different topic that we will not touch on. Today we will talk about pipes NOT for tobacco, but about Rastafarian pipes.

Pipes for communicating with cannabis are purchased by both beginners and those who have already managed to communicate with bongs, bubblers and vaporizers. Nothing prevents you from having a more solid smoking device with a water cooling system and a small pipe in the kit in order to take it with you on trips and travels or to take a smoke break when you have absolutely no desire to charge the bong.

Types of smoking pipes

Perhaps it would be most reasonable to begin our review by distributing the tubes by materials of manufacture. At the same time, we will talk about the disadvantages and advantages of each of them, as well as interesting hybrids, different manufacturers, unexpected solutions and exclusive copies. So…

Clay pipes

The centuries-old history of this representative of smoking devices evokes respect, because people have learned to handle clay since time immemorial. Since then, the clay pipe has walked hand in hand with the smoker, acquired a lot of legends, beliefs, entertaining stories and gained fans, even in the modern world of advanced materials.

Experienced users claim that the “taste” of this pipe, or rather of what you smoke with it, is special, rich, without any impurities. The tobacco or smoking mixture does not stick to the walls of such a pipe, does not taste bitter, and reveals its true taste. The porous structure of clay acts as a natural filter, absorbing resins and combustion products. And to get rid of resins and coking, just heat the tube thoroughly - everything will simply burn. And the appearance of representatives of this species is most often original - look at the “Bird of Prey” tube. Of course, there are also disadvantages - clay pipes are quite fragile, they are afraid of sudden temperature changes, and therefore most often take the place of collector's items.

Meerschaum tubes

They are more suitable for smoking tobacco, but we cannot help but mention them. Meerschaum, or more correctly sepiolite, is a natural material. Light, porous, formed from the remains of prehistoric inhabitants. Today, Türkiye has a monopoly position in the production of meerschaum. The export of unprocessed sepiolite is prohibited by Turkish legislation, which does not have the best effect on both the price and the popularity of the products. Meerschaum tubes are valued for their unsurpassed hygroscopicity, ability to absorb moisture and resins, acting as a natural filter, as well as for their appearance. It is easy to process the material, so the shapes can be very diverse, from the heads of animals and predators, as in the “” tube, to the most unexpected subjects. Among the shortcomings we highlight: fragility of the material; if you use the tube, the whiteness will eventually give way to an unpleasant yellow tint; overpriced products. For collectors - interesting and valuable specimens, for smokers who adhere to ritual and aesthetics in everything - too, but for everyday and frequent use, and especially for smoking substrates, which we mean - hardly.

Wooden tubes

Another ancient example of smoking devices, due to the natural material that man has learned to skillfully process. This good old pipe also has many admirers, despite the fact that modern ones are stepping on its heels: acrylic, glass and metal. The strength of this pipe, without a doubt, is its colorful appearance. Here is the confirmation - a carved wooden pipe.

Carved wood pipe

It can have many forms: with a removable bowl or not, with different lengths of the smoke channel, from different types of wood, classic design or exclusive, varied decor. They have one thing in common - pleasant tactile contact, the wood is “warm and alive” to the touch. And the aesthetic side of the issue will satisfy even the most demanding user: from simple carvings to ornate ornaments and ethnic scenes. The Tallulah pipe is an eloquent confirmation of this.

Typically, hardwoods are chosen for making wooden pipes: black, pink, oak, cherry, briar, morta. Each wood has its own subtle smell, and therefore smoking a wooden pipe has a different aftertaste, which is provided by one or another type of wood. However, no matter how strong the tree is, it and fire are incompatible. Maybe not right away, maybe not soon, but wooden pipes burn out, are afraid of moisture, and therefore are quite difficult to maintain. For some, the aforementioned possible aftertaste is also a disadvantage. But these tubes have a right to exist, and so do their regular audience.

Variations on the theme of a wooden pipe

Despite the shortcomings, wooden tubes are quite popular - they are affordable, and therefore, even if they become unusable, they are easy to replace. It is good for trips and trips, and therefore manufacturers are experimenting with form and content. Here's how it is in the Yin-Yang tube: the first thing that catches your eye is the colored layers that cover the entire body of the tube. It looks very impressive. At first it’s not clear, where is the bowl of this pipe? The fact is that the bowl is covered with a sliding lid, which fits very tightly. You can charge such a tube, cover it, and take it with you without fear of the contents spilling. The slightly twisted pipe is a slightly elongated smoke channel, the removable plastic mouthpiece is easy to wash, and the pipe itself is more convenient to clean. And this is far from the only variation on the theme of a wooden pipe. Go to the appropriate section of the Duda store, where you can buy a smoking pipe online, wooden, with a glass or metal bowl, a doha pipe, dismountable or with a solid body, large or small, classic or innovative.

Since we mentioned this type of pipe, let’s look at them in more detail. What is so special about them that there was a need to highlight these tubes in a separate line? Pay attention to the bowl - it is very small, and the Arabian Nights pipe will not let you lie. This device is designed for smoking very strong Arabic tobacco - dokha. So strong that you need several times less of it than usual to get the same effect. To be more precise, dokha contains 5 times more nicotine than regular tobacco. In addition, it has the consistency of powder as it is thoroughly ground. Tobacco is collected with the pipe itself, scooping it from a container with a dokha. The name of this pipe is meduah or miduah. Its classic shape is straight, with a pointed nose and a tiny tobacco chamber for 3-4 puffs. By the way, “doha” translated from Arabic means “dizziness.” A very apt name. The strength of such tobacco will make anyone's head spin. And if we ignore the true purpose, then such a pipe is quite suitable for “other” smoking.

Acrylic tubes

Acrylic, as you know, is the brainchild of the chemical industry. The material is modern and synthetic. It is lightweight and durable. It is easy to create any shape from acrylic, it is easy to paint it in any color, and therefore acrylic tubes are full of variety. Conventionally, they can be divided into very simple ones, where the laconic form is flavored with bright colors, and complex devices. This is how the “Hypnosis” tube works. Its smoke channel is twisted in the form of a coil, which makes the smoke travel a longer path, which means it cools down. Acrylic is often combined with other materials - wood, metal. The advantages of such devices: resistance to chips, cracks, mechanical damage, lightness. Acrylic is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, and is easy to clean. Among the disadvantages: acrylic initially shines glossy, but when used it becomes covered with small scratches, due to which it becomes dull. He especially does not like the material of abrasives and hard washcloths. Therefore, once again we remind and advise: use professional shampoos and solvents that do all the work practically without your participation.

Intricate acrylic tubes

Speaking of acrylic fancy tubes, you can't go past the Zigzag Dual Vessel Cooling Tube. You can argue about what it really is - a pipe with a water cooling system, a bubbler or a bong. It seems that the manufacturer himself has not decided on this matter, since in one case he positions a device such as a bong, in another as a pipe. But does this really matter? The main thing is that the device turned out to be mobile, practical and does a good job of cleaning and cooling smoke. Such a unit is interesting both from the point of view of design and appearance, and therefore will appeal to both collectors and practitioners. There are also variations on the theme of such a device, so go to the “acrylic pipes” section to buy a smoking pipe online or just stay on top of new products and interesting additions to the smoking device market.

Glass tubes

A vast group that is more diverse than all of the above combined. Why glass? After all, this is a rather fragile material, and therefore not entirely practical for a smoking device. However, such advantages as the ability to create complex structures, the shape and filling of which are aimed at cooling the smoke, offset this disadvantage. In addition, glass does not remember odors, is easy to clean, and it is not so fragile if we are talking about borosilicate glass - it is heat-resistant, shock-resistant, and practically does not heat up during use.

Tubes made of borosilicate glass produce such meters as “Black Leaf” and “Weed Star”; among glass tubes you can find both classic and oil tubes, chillums, vaporizer tubes, exclusive specimens of unprecedented and even provocative shapes and bright colors. Glass does not fade over time, and with proper care, such a smoking device will always remain like new. Well, let’s try to embrace the immensity...

Of course, chillums are not only made of glass. Chillums or chillims are one of the most ancient smoking devices, and therefore the first materials for their manufacture were clay or wood. There are still clay and wooden chillums, but glass ones look more presentable, and caring for such a device is easier than for an analogue made from the above-mentioned materials. Let's say right away that chillums are not very popular in our latitudes, due to the fact that it is customary to smoke them while holding the pipe vertically. Moreover, the classic version of smoking does not involve touching the mouthpiece to the lips; they fold their palms in front of the pipe and bring them to the mouth, and for cooling they use a wet cloth through which the smoke passes. With a glass chillim, obviously, such manipulations do not need to be performed, since the glass itself cools the smoke. If you want to order a glass smoking pipe of such an exotic shape and smoking method, we recommend paying attention to the “Fantastic” model. It comes in a presentable box from the manufacturer and will be of interest to both collectors and practitioners.

Glass tubes from Black Leaf

I would like to continue structuring the diversity of the world of glass tubes from this manufacturer. Well known, respected by all, each of his products is already a classic that others try to imitate and follow. It was Black Leaf who began experimenting with colored glass and it worked out great for him. There is no other way than by hand to achieve such an effect with multi-colored glass. Each tube is unique in its own way, since it is impossible to achieve a 100% match of the intersection of colored threads. But it's all aesthetics. What's the reality? From a practical point of view, the tubes are also pleasing. Let's look at "Rainbow". Compact, thick-walled, fits nicely in the palm, and feels stable on the surface, has a kick hole. There are many variations on its theme. Other colors and shades, plain or variegated, with or without roll-stop drops. Each is good in its own way!

But such a pipe can be called a classically shaped pipe, if we talk about smoking certain smoking substances. The “Classik” tube is equipped with small legs and stands confidently on the surface. The logo of the respected manufacturer Black Leaf is emblazoned throughout the mouthpiece. The bowl is quite spacious, made in the shape of a cone; it would not hurt to add a filter element to it. Simple, convenient, effective, easy to charge, easy to use, easy to clean (especially using special detergents).

Well, or a very small and simple tube like “Lotus”. But, as you know, simplicity is what is most difficult in the world; it is the limit of experience. And Black Leaf has achieved perfection in this. The handset turned out to be small, quite elegant, and mobile. With careful handling, it is quite possible to take it with you, although for the purposes of trips and trips, it is still better to choose a stronger material. More likely, this is for a quick smoke break without any special rituals.

Glass pipe as a gift

When choosing a gift, you always want to be original. The arsenal of Black Leaf pipes is a dime a dozen! Here's how the "Fire Salamander": handmade, has a unique design, is complemented by comfortable legs for stability and a kick hole for maximum smoking effect. The coloring is simply cosmic, and at the same time it is not capricious in care. Why not a gift? This one, even just standing on a shelf, will decorate gray everyday life, and communication with it will turn into a holiday every time.

In this category, Black Leaf is both a pioneer and an undisputed leader. Handmade pipes of the most outlandish designs are highly prized by collectors and users alike. The “Scary Story” tube is shaped like a skull, but on our shelves you will find aliens, penguins, and all sorts of fantastic creatures. The devices can be proudly presented as a present, as they combine both performance characteristics and original appearance.

Exclusive from Black Leaf

An exclusive from Black Leaf - it sounds like poetry, and it looks the same. Of course, German masters could not ignore the theme of uniqueness and special significance. The appearance of the Fred pipe can only cause delight - a combination of transparent and colored glass, an interesting idea, pleasant smooth lines, handmade, limited edition. You can continue for a long time, but it is better to become the owner of such a handset in order to evaluate in practice all the advantages of this device. Let us repeat once again - Black Leaf approaches each instance with soul and German pedantry, and therefore the devices turn out to be appropriate. Look for variations in the corresponding section - “exclusive glass tubes”.

Glass pipes from Weed Star

Another reputable German brand for the manufacture of smoking devices is Weed Star. Both bongs and pipes from this manufacturer are good. In the “Icicle” pipe, the craftsmen decided to experiment with the shape so that it would help cool the smoke. In addition, please note that the thimble grinder is removable and has the most popular diameter - 14.5 mm. This means that it is not only convenient to fill it with stuff, but also, if desired, you can change it to any other of the same diameter or convert the device into an oil tube.

Glass Oil Tubes

Since we mentioned oil pipes, let's take a closer look at them. From the name it is clear that such devices are not intended for dry smoking mixtures, but for oils. For this purpose, the bowl has a special shape. Look at the Bugle tube. A very thin mouthpiece, a spherical bowl shape - the elegant appearance alone evokes the idea of ​​a calm home environment and individual communication with this device. Using circular movements from below, you heat the tube, ensuring uniform evaporation of the oily substance that you load into such a device. Let us repeat once again that the tube requires careful handling; borosilicate glass, although heat-resistant, can burst from sudden heating.

Glass oil tube with titanium rod

A more reliable and advanced pipe for smoking oil, in our opinion, is the “Oil pipe” and its analogues. It is not as fragile as the previous one, it is stable, and equipped with a titanium rod. The rod is inserted into the grinder, heated by a stream of directed fire (a turbo lighter will do this task perfectly), after which you drop an oily substance onto the nail and cover it with a dome on top so that the final product, which you are going to consume, does not dissipate in the space around it.

Glass tube with filter

Another challenging pipe is the Jilter. The seemingly complex device does not actually imply any difficulties in handling. The highlight of this design is the addition of replaceable filters. The mouthpiece of the pipe is removable, and the kit comes with about 50 filters that you insert inside the pipe, thereby filtering the smoke. The parts of the tube are joined tightly, without gaps, the tube does not siphon, and the end result will undoubtedly please you.

Or here’s another fancy and sophisticated glass device - the “Hybrid” tube. It is even more advanced - it allows you to use both dry smoking mixtures and oils by simply replacing one type of bowl with another. But that's not all! The tube provides water cooling of the smoke. To do this, fill the central, widest flask with cool water or other coolant. The kit includes special clamps; do not neglect to use them, so that at the most inopportune moment the parts of the tube do not become separated. In general, the handset cannot be called a baby; when assembled, it is quite impressive. Obviously not a camping option, but a model for true aesthetes and connoisseurs.

Another tube that uses water as a coolant is the Flute vaporizer tube. Many people like this model because it works great both as a pipe and as a vaporizer. It is easy to use like a regular pipe, and if you remove the small thimble, place the smoking mixture in a large bowl and gently heat it from below, the smoking mixture will evaporate rather than burn. There is water inside the mouthpiece; if desired, you can replace it with some kind of non-freezing liquid and cool it thoroughly in the freezer. You understand that if you place a tube with water in the freezer, it will simply burst.

The theme of cooling is also picked up by glass smoking devices with spiral mouthpieces. In a type of tube such as "" there may be a different number of spiral turns, which is why the tube can be larger or smaller. The tube configuration is quite logical - a complex smoke trajectory means good cleaning and cooling. Looking ahead, in terms of practicality, a metal tube is inferior, but each of them has its own vector of use. This is clearly for individual home relaxation in a calm environment.

As you can see, the world of glass pipes is very diverse. From the simplest to the quite complex. Manufacturers are constantly inventing, improving and adding something, so we will not be surprised if something completely new appears soon, which we undertake to introduce you to at the first opportunity. Here we tried to cover the main types and talk about the most interesting models, but the choice of the Duda store is actually much wider.

Metal tubes

Metal! Another fertile material for the manufacture of smoking devices, this category is also vast and diverse. The most commonly used materials are stainless steel, brass, aircraft-grade aluminum and other alloys that do not corrode. Metal products are characterized by strength and durability, they do not burn out or deform, and are easy to clean. Perhaps the only “but” is the likelihood of heating during use, which manufacturers try to combat by combining with other materials or inserts on the body.

Let's start the review with one of the miniature representatives of this family, the Travel tube. An excellent hiking option that won’t take up much space and won’t let you down in use - qualities that are especially valued when packing a backpack or suitcase. Tubes of this type are as simple as possible, both in functionality and in form, and often do not even require mesh - unnecessary movements along the way only distract. Yes, when using them you will have to come to terms with the fact that the body will heat up, but small bowls are designed for a quick smoke break, and not for long-term communication, so this touch will not cause much discomfort.

The simple shape of such a pipe can already be complemented by an unobtrusive decor of the body, and the representative of the smoking device itself is sheathed in a case. The view immediately becomes more presentable and the “Nobility” pipe is proof of this. Despite their small size and simple shape, these handsets can be classified as premium devices. High-quality work with metal is complemented by a small twist - the bowl does not require a filter element, and you can regulate the speed and intensity of smoke passage (by making a special gap in the bowl wider or narrower) yourself, thanks to a threaded wheel at the very bottom of the bowl. The mouthpiece unscrews, making it easier to care for the device.

Metal tube with cap

A more advanced model in terms of shape. The entire length of the tube consists of an alternation of metal and rubber rings; the mouthpiece of such tubes is through. The outlet pipe, which is located closer to the bowl, can and should be used as a turbo hole: by closing and opening it, you can regulate the strength and intensity of smoking. Another feature of these models is that the bowl is closed at the top, or rather screwed on with a lid with a small round hole. After loading the stuff and installing the lid, the fire is drawn through it, and the fire occurs in an almost closed chamber, preventing smoke from escaping. "Pyramid" is one of a whole series of such tubes: shorter, longer, more massive or thicker, with different body colors.

Metal tube with turbo hole

A more successful model with a turbo hole than the previous one. The kick hole is located on the side, which is much more comfortable to use. The presence of a turbo can be found not only in metal, but also in glass; it is clear that such models are an order of magnitude higher than simple forms, although the Rainer tube is a completely affordable option. Given its durability, reliability and portability, it is great for taking the handset with you.

The presence of such a decorative addition as lighting does not affect the functionality in any way, but it adds to the mood and makes a handset with such bells and whistles stand out from all the others. Looks great in the dark, playing with different colors and blinking the mouthpiece in various modes. The Arabian Night tube itself is made of metal and has good performance characteristics. The bowl and mouthpiece unscrew, making it easier to care for the device. The pipe has found its connoisseurs, is a success and has received a lot of positive reviews.

Collapsible metal tube

Models of tubes that can be disassembled are, first of all, good because the dismountable structure is much easier to clean, even without special tools. A cotton swab, toothpick and other household or homemade items can quickly put the pipe in order and clean the smoke channel from tar and coking. Very often, when not working, the pipe does not look like a smoking device at all, like “Simplicity of Solutions”, for example. It is connected using magnets and, when disassembled, presents an unremarkable geometric shape. Other models twist and unwind and may have many components, which, if desired, you can not even use all of them, thereby changing the appearance of the tube. To some extent, such pipes can be called transformer pipes, but I would like to highlight this group separately.

Transformable tubes

Transformer pipes or spy pipes very often are not simply disassembled and folded, but are disguised as things familiar to our eyes, which the average person in no way associates with the topic of smoking.

Tube-bolt

Well, who would suspect that the “Bolt” that you have in your toolbox, desk drawer or pocket is actually not just a bolt, but a small tube? Unless the smell reveals the true purpose of this device. But with proper care, even a dog will not be able to find it. The main thing is not to forget where you put it and not to confuse it with other fasteners. By the way, such options are often used in hiding places: a bolt, a battery, a lighter, which have a hollow core inside for storing “charms”. And they are also available in Duda's store.

Not as peaceful a device as a bolt, but it is also popular due to its completely unconventional (in the good sense of the word) design, as for a pipe. Fans of the original genre like it, it sells like hot cakes as gifts for friends and like-minded people. Happy owners of this device note that the ammunition load is pleasantly heavy in the hand, practical to use, and all threaded connections are tightly tightened. Therefore, we can safely recommend the “Dum-Dum” pipe as a proven option both by Duda’s store and by users.

Many of us in childhood only dreamed of such bright and realistic toys, and why not realize one of them now? As they say, everyone has fun, as they can, and everyone has their own interests: for some, TV, for some, nature, fishing, hunting, and for others, it’s a joy to build a construction set or get stuck into a video game, or maybe smoke this original “Rocket” pipe, stylized as a children’s toy To put the tube into working condition, you need a minimum of actions - unscrew the rocket engine nozzle, screw it onto the body and start counting!

Another “spy” is the “Cool Thing” lipstick tube. It was created in order to get lost in the depths of a woman’s handbag and not raise any unnecessary questions or suspicions in anyone. Lipstick with the fair half of humanity always and everywhere, be it a social event or an outing with friends in nature, and therefore such a device is appropriate in any conditions where a little secrecy or maximum creativity is needed.

Pipe-gun

But this device is more for men. Miniature pipe-gun. You won’t be able to kill with it, but “killing yourself” with it is easy! It looks original, functions perfectly, and you don’t need any permits to carry such a “weapon.” Creative ideas in pipe design are valued both by collectors and by those who set out to give an unconventional gift to a friend or to please a loved one. For such ideas, come to us; on the shelves of the Duda store you will find “Pistol” and many other interesting devices.

A sports and creative theme for pipes is also quite suitable. Of course, this version of the pipe cannot be called absolutely fire-free, but the fact that it is clearly thematic is for sure. The stylization of the “Billiards” pipe will appeal to those who are partial to this kind of board games or choose a pipe of an original design as a gift. The device is also quite good in operation - the mouthpiece, mouthpiece, and bowl can be unscrewed, making it easy to clean and maintain; the kit includes several soft nets along with the tube.

Marker tube

This tube is disguised as a felt-tip pen or marker - a completely common thing on a desktop, in a desk, in a pencil case, in a bag, etc. The plastic body of the marker hides the smoking device inside. “HI-LITER” tubes can be collected as a whole set, for example, for each of your friends - a specific color. And together the tubes will resemble an ordinary collection of multi-colored markers.

Tube-keychain

Well, let’s finish the review of “spy” handsets with this little one, which is disguised as an inconspicuous trinket and can always be with you on your key ring. Variations can be varied - from all-steel or brass products, to a combination of different materials, as in the Vitor tube. It has a wooden mouthpiece and a stone bowl.

Let us remind you once again that the main enemy of conspiracy is smell. Therefore, wash your pipes more often, since metal products are not afraid of water treatments. The only “but” is that if the tube body is painted, then very caustic solvents or abrasive substances can spoil the appearance of the device. In view of this, we remind you once again that a professional cleaning product, specially designed for bongs and other smoking devices, takes into account the specifics of contaminants and does the job much better than household or folk remedies.

Close to the theme of the original spy pipes - no less original cool ones with a Rastafarian-mushroom theme. The colorful characters that adorn the mouthpiece not only lift the mood and add something unconventional to the device, but also serve a practical purpose. Made of plastic or polyresin, they are used instead of a heat insulator. Metal tends to heat up when used, and the decor prevents unpleasant tactile sensations. Thematic tubes such as “Did you smile today? ” are often supplemented with keychains, magnets or figurines with the same ambiguous meaning and presented as a gift for anyone who has a sense of humor and faith in Jah.

Such pipes also belong to the category of metal smoking devices. Their distinctive feature is their miniature size. This nuance is always welcome where it is not possible to charge a pipe of impressive size, and your body movements to grind the smoking mixture, etc. will attract unwanted attention. In general, anyone who needs a quick smoke break will certainly pay attention to the “Better Bat Green” single-shot pipe from Black Leaf. An addition in the form of a small spring serves to quickly clean the pipe from ash and smoke break residues.

More advanced - tubes of one supply with a storage box. Outwardly, such a device looks more like some kind of stationery than a smoking device. The principle of operation is simple - place the crushed smoking mixture inside the box and insert the pipe on top. When the need for a smoke break arises, lower the pipe all the way down and pull it out in a state of combat readiness: quickly and conveniently. Anyone who liked this idea will not miss the “Hit” tube. Once again, we emphasize that those who love real rituals of smoking, and the atmosphere is only favorable for this, are unlikely to be satisfied with such a pipe, but if you need one or two puffs quickly, this is an excellent, effective device.

Combination tubes

Each material for making a tube is good in its own way, but has both advantages and disadvantages. That’s why manufacturers often combine them so that each part of the tube gets the best performance.

This is how it is in the “Grace” tube. The bowl of this device is made of metal - quite reasonable and reasonable, because metal does not burn through. And the long mouthpiece is made of wood - the material does not heat up and is pleasant to tactile contact. Variations can be found in a wide variety, sometimes they make the pipe more affordable in price if, for example, wood is replaced with plastic. And sometimes, on the contrary, they add exclusivity - pipes with a wooden mouthpiece and a glass bowl on which, for example, a small frog sits or which is entwined with a snake or dragon. It is clear that the price of such a product will be much higher.

A combination of glass and metal, as in the “Metalline” tube - these are two bodies connected together. The inside is glass. We have already said that glass for smoking devices is welcome because it does not remember the smell and is easy to clean. The fragile material protects the massive metal casing. The bowl unscrews, making it easier to care for the device, and is complemented by a turbo hole. Extraordinary execution in practice shows excellent results - the appearance is decent, the performance characteristics are excellent, and the wear resistance indicators inspire respect.

Combination tube with angled bowl

Or this option, as in the “Lumberjack” tube. Wood, metal and plastic are used here, and each of the materials has its place. The bowl is made of hard wood, roomy, and allows for long-term smoking. As we have already found out, metal mouthpieces tend to heat up during smoking, and therefore the plastic “casing” not only decorates the device, but also serves as a heat insulator. The design is also interesting: the mouthpiece is angled (or the bowl is located at an angle in relation to it - it depends which way you look at it), it’s convenient to charge. But that's not all. If you unscrew the bowl, you get a metal chillum. So this tube is both a combination tube and a transformer rolled into one.

Transformable tube

But the previous tube cannot be compared with this transformable tube, which also combines different materials. “Alien” is both a storage container and the smoking device itself. Agree, it’s convenient if you go on a trip and want to take some supply of smoking mixture with you. Why extra things if you have the aforementioned tube? We crushed the stuff with a grinder, put the tubes in a container and off we went! (By the way, about grinding smoking mixtures, read our article “Grinder. To be or not to be?” We won’t talk about the tricks of operating a transforming pipe - we’ll keep some intrigue, and it’s better to see it once, as they say. But get to know this device You can take a closer look in the informative video review. Yes, and subscribe to our channel to always be aware of new products.

It is difficult to say which category to classify this pipe in the first place - universal, transformable pipes, vaporizer pipes or combination pipes. And is it even a pipe? The complex device “Silver” is designed to kill a crowd of birds with one stone at once - consuming both smoking mixtures and oils. Moreover, use the evaporation function, which makes it possible to obtain a much cleaner final product, since it is initially free from combustion products. An unusual smoking device of an unusual shape - to say the least. As a maximum, it is a truly universal smoking unit, which is good both for home use and for traveling and visiting friends.

Pipes with cooling system

Our review ends with pipes that are designed to overcome one significant drawback of all the above-mentioned smoking pipes. The small size of the smoking device is good in terms of mobility, but for cooling the smoke, the length of the smoke channel is sometimes not enough. The path that the smoke travels is too short, and therefore a burning sensation in the throat and bitterness are possible, and hot smoke does not add health. Manufacturers have heard as much about this problem as we have, and that is why tubes with smoke cooling systems have been developed. So…

When assembled, the Argent tube simply resembles a metal cylinder. And if you unscrew the tube, then in the middle we find a screw device made of brass. The path of the smoke increases significantly, which means it is cooled better. The chamber for loading stuff is quite small, which is correct - the device is not designed for long-term smoking, the steel body heats up noticeably when using the pipe, but the smoke becomes cool. Unless someone likes to warm their hands in this way in winter - then such a tube has nothing but advantages for them.

But almost the same, only a little larger, plus with a cord for easy transportation - this is “Argentum”. Inside is a cooler already familiar to us - a built-in diffuser. The tube is small in size and yet has a large path for smoke. Let us remind you once again - do not forget to keep your smoking devices clean. This is not only beneficial for the appearance of the tubes, but also for your health. Why re-inhale combustion products and resins that remain on the body? Get rid of them immediately, especially since the metal tube is extremely easy to clean - just dip it in a solution of a special detergent for a while and all the dirt will come off without any extra effort or friction on your part.

In appearance, the “Amazed” pipe is a very stylish steel capsule from the manufacturer Red-Eye. The collapsible housing hides a labyrinth-type cooling and filtering system, which operates according to the principle described above - it lengthens the path that the smoke must travel, thereby cooling it. The advantage over the models presented above is a rather impressive hole for drawing in the flame.

The pipe is from the same opera as "Amazed", but is considered the king of the series - the "King" pipe. It is larger in size, and the external design of the case is slightly different. The disadvantage of heating the tube during use has been eliminated, since the body is supplemented with a plastic casing. But, in general, it is the carrier of the smoke cooling system already familiar to us, which forces the smoke to make a complex trajectory and leave resins on the walls of the labyrinth. It is difficult to call such a device a pipe - after all, it looks more like a cigar. And a cigar, no matter what it is, rolled from tobacco leaves or something like this, made of metal, adds solidity and can serve as a good surrogate for thought.

Metal chillum or Splif Stik tube

A device that looks more like a miniature baseball bat. The tube body is made of stainless steel. Inside the “Splif Stik” tube, again, there is a real labyrinth, 175 mm long. In addition, you can use this device as a chillum pipe or as a mouthpiece for rolling cigarettes. By the way, in our store you can find rolling paper and filters to use together with this pipe or separately if you are a fan of classic joints.

Did you read to the end? For this alone, huge respect to you! But now you are quite savvy and can make an informed choice, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed options. Of course, there is no ideal modification. Every material and every tube has “buts” and “ifs,” just as everyone has their own idea of ​​happiness. For some, there is nothing better than rushing around the world on a yacht and throwing ducats at various overseas curiosities. And some people like to sit in the twilight with a pipe and think about the essence of existence...

Famous blogger from Novosibirsk Slava Stepanov( Gelio) published in his LiveJournal a photo story about how diamonds are mined at the Mirny and Nyurbinsky mining and processing plants. He accompanied the unique shots with explanations.

Diamonds were formed more than 300 million years ago. Kimberlite magma formed at a depth of 20−25 kilometers. Magma gradually rose along faults in the earth's crust, and when the upper layers could no longer contain the pressure of the rocks, an explosion occurred. The first such pipe was discovered in South Africa in Kimberley - that’s where the name came from. In the mid-50s, the richest primary diamond deposits were discovered in Yakutia, where about 1,500 kimberlite pipes have been discovered to date. The development of deposits in Yakutia is carried out by the Russian company ALROSA, which produces 99% of diamonds in the Russian Federation and more than a quarter in the world.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Mirny is the diamond “capital” of Russia, located in Yakutia (Sakha) 1200 kilometers from Yakutsk. The Mir diamond-bearing pipe, discovered by geologists in the summer of 1955, gave its name to a workers’ settlement that grew up in the taiga and became a city 3.5 years later.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The population of the city is about 35 thousand people. About 80% of this population works at enterprises associated with the ALROSA group of companies.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Lenin Square is the city center.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Mirny Airport. The city is supplied with food and consumer goods in the following ways: aviation, shipping supplies (for the period while navigation is open on the Lena) and along the winter road.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Il-76TD cargo plane of ALROSA airlines.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The headquarters of Russia's largest diamond mining company, ALROSA, is located in Mirny. The history of the company began with the Yakutalmaz trust, formed to develop the primary diamond deposits of Yakutia in the early 1950s.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The main deposit of Yakutalmaz was the Mir kimberlite pipe, discovered on June 13, 1955. Then geologists sent an encrypted telegram to Moscow: “We have lit the pipe of peace. The tobacco is excellent."

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The quarry is located in close proximity to Mirny.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

From 1957 to 2001, $17 billion worth of diamonds were extracted from the deposit, and about 350 million cubic meters of rock were removed. Over the years, the quarry expanded so much that dump trucks had to drive eight kilometers along a spiral road from the bottom to the surface.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The quarry has a depth of 525 meters and a diameter of 1.2 kilometers, and is one of the largest in the world: the height of it could include the Ostankino TV tower.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The quarry was mothballed in June 2001 and since 2009, diamond ore has been mined underground at the Mir mine.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

There is an aquifer in the area where the Mir pipe is located. Water is now entering the quarry and thus poses a threat to the mine underneath. Water must be continuously pumped out and directed into the faults that geologists have found in the earth's crust.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The volume of diamond production at the mine in 2013 amounted to more than two million carats. Resources (including reserves) - more than 40 million tons of ore.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

About 760 people work at the mine. The company operates seven days a week. The mine operates on a three-shift basis, with shifts lasting seven hours.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Surveyors who determine the direction of excavation through the ore body.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Nine roadheaders (Sandvik MR 620 and MR360) are used for excavation in the mine. The combine is a machine with an executive body in the form of an arrow with a milling crown, which is equipped with cutting tools - teeth.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

This Sandvik MR360 combine has 72 teeth made of hardened metal. Since the teeth are subject to wear, they are inspected every shift and, if necessary, replaced with new ones.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

To deliver ore from the combine to the ore pass, 8 loading and delivery vehicles (LODs) are used.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Main converter belt 1200 meters long from the kimberlite pipe to the ore pass skip. The average diamond content exceeds three carats per ton.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

From this place to the bottom of the quarry is about 20 meters. To prevent flooding of the underground mine, a pillar 20 meters thick was left between the bottom of the quarry and the mine workings. A waterproof layer is also laid at the bottom of the quarry, which prevents water from penetrating into the mine.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The mine also has a water collection system: first, groundwater is collected in special settling tanks, then it is supplied to an elevation of 310 meters, from where it is pumped to the surface.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

In total, the mine operates 10 pumps with a capacity of 180 to 400 cubic meters per hour.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Installation of the main tape.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

And this is underground work on another pipe - “International” (“Inter”). It is located 16 kilometers from Mirny. Open-pit diamond mining here began in 1971, and when the quarry reached 284 meters by 1980, it was mothballed. It was with Inter that underground diamond mining began in Yakutia.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

“International” is the company’s richest kimberlite pipe in terms of diamond content in ore - more than eight carats per ton. In addition, Inter diamonds are of high quality and are valued on the world market.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The depth of the mine is 1065 meters. The pipe has been explored to 1220 meters. The length of all workings here is more than 40 kilometers.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The combine beats ore with a working tool (cone cutter) with cutters installed on it.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Next comes loading into loading and delivery vehicles, which transport the ore to the ore passes (mining workings designed to transport ore from the working area to the transport horizon located below), then the trolleys transport it to the main ore pass, through which it is fed into the skips? the trunk and protrudes to the surface.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

1,500 tons of ore are mined at Inter per day. The volume of diamond production in 2013 amounted to more than 4.3 million carats.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

On average, one ton of rock contains 8.53 carats of diamonds. So, in terms of diamond content, per ton of mined ore from Inter is equal to two tons of ore from Mir, four tons from Aikhal, or eight tons from Udachninsky.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Work at the mine is carried out day and night, seven days a week. There are only two holidays - New Year and Miner's Day.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Nyurbinskaya kimberlite pipe. The Nyurbinsky mining and processing plant was created in March 2000 for the development of deposits of the Nakyn ore field in the Nyurbinsky ulus of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - the Nyurbinskaya and Botuobinskaya kimberlite pipes, as well as adjacent placers. Mining is carried out by open-pit and placer mining.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

For the first time in the history of the association of Yakutalmaz and the Alrosa company, the Nyurbinsky GOK uses a rotational method - with the involvement of workers living in Mirny (320 kilometers), in Nyurba (206 kilometers) and in the village of Verkhnevilyuysk (235 kilometers).

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

As of July 1, 2013, the depth of the Nyurbinsky quarry is 255 meters. The open pit will be mined up to 450 meters (up to 200 meters from sea level). There is potential to operate up to 320 meters.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

To transport ore and overburden rocks, dump trucks with large and especially heavy load capacity are used - from 40 to 136 tons.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The quarry uses Caterpillar CAT-777D dump trucks with a lifting capacity of 88 tons.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Nyurba Mining and Processing Plant has the highest growth rate of natural diamond production in AK ALROSA.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The volume of diamond production in 2013 amounted to 6.5 million carats.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

There are about 300-400 carats in the back of such a dump truck.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

From a quarry or mine, ore is transported by dump trucks to a factory, where the minerals themselves are extracted from it.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The beneficiation of diamonds at the Mirny Mining and Processing Plant is carried out at factory No. 3, which in the 70s of the last century was the flagship of the country’s diamond mining industry. The capacity of the processing complex is 1,415 thousand ores per year.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Coarse crushing body and jaw crusher. It grinds by rubbing the movable “cheek” against the stationary one. Six thousand tons of raw materials pass through the crusher per day.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Medium crushing body.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Spiral classifiers. Designed for wet separation of solid material into sand (sediment, particle size up to 50 millimeters), and drain containing fine suspended particles.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Wet autogenous mill.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The diameter of the mill is seven meters.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The stones are sifted through a sieve, where they are divided into groups according to size.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Finely processed rock is sent to spiral classifiers (screw separators), where all raw materials are separated depending on their density.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

The heavy fraction comes from the outer side, and the light fraction comes from the inner side.

Slava Stepanov, gelio.livejournal.com.

Pneumatic flotation machine. Fine material, together with the addition of aqueous reagents, enters a pneumatic flotation machine, where crystals of small classes adhere to foam bubbles and are sent for finishing. The smallest diamonds are extracted using a pneumatic flotation machine - from two millimeters or less.

At birth, the baby’s organs and systems are anatomically immature. In the first weeks of life, the intestines of a newborn begin to be populated by microflora involved in digestion, and intestinal motor function is launched.

During this period, the baby may especially often experience stool retention and flatulence. The accumulation of air in the intestinal lumen causes discomfort in the child, he worries, cries - this is intestinal colic.

For as much detail as possible about how to help a small child with such a problem, read the article by a pediatrician.

The occurrence of colic can be prevented, and there are several methods for this:

Installing a gas outlet tube is a last resort and is necessary only if all these measures have already been carried out, but a positive effect has not been achieved.

Symptoms that require the use of a gas outlet tube:

  • stool retention for several days;
  • restless behavior, agitation of the child, prolonged crying of the baby;
  • loss of appetite, complete refusal of the child to eat;
  • The baby's belly is sharply swollen, the anterior abdominal wall is tense.

Contraindications to the use of a gas tube for newborns

Not every child can have a gas tube installed. Therefore, before using it, it is always better to consult with a pediatrician, who will give the necessary recommendations or show how to insert a gas outlet tube.

Placement of a gas outlet tube is contraindicated in the following conditions:

How to choose a gas outlet pipe?

There are several types of gas outlet devices: from a standard gas outlet tube to modified catheters. You can buy them at every pharmacy. Parents can choose any gas outlet tube for a newborn at their discretion, choosing a quality and price that is convenient for them.

  1. Reusable gas tube for children. It is a tube made of non-toxic elastic rubber with holes on both sides. The end inserted into the rectum is rounded. There are several sizes of tubes, depending on the age of the infants. Immediately after birth, use products of 15 - 16 numbers; in the future, it is necessary to purchase larger size tubes (17 - 18 numbers). Regardless of the product number, its diameter should be 2 - 3 mm, and its length should not exceed 22 cm. The average cost of such a tube is 60 rubles. The product is convenient because it can be used several times, and the price is pleasant. The disadvantage is that the tube must be boiled before the procedure and it does not have insertion depth markings.
  2. Rectal gas outlet tube for newborns from Apexmed. This is a sterile, single use probe. The end of the tube inserted into the rectum is rounded, which reduces the risk of injury; the free end is wide with a plastic tip. It is made from materials of the highest safety class, which soften when heated inside the intestine, which also reduces the risk of damage to the mucous membrane. The probe has a size marking in centimeters, which allows you to control the depth of insertion. There are also several sizes of probes, depending on the age of the baby. The price of such a product is from 200 to 400 rubles.
  3. Gas outlet tube for newborns Windi. Rubber sterile gas outlet tube intended for single use. The tube is small in size and has the shape of a catheter, which eliminates the risk of traumatic injuries. It is made of thermoplastic elastomer, which, when in contact with the human body, quickly heats up and becomes softer. The Windy catheter is very convenient and easy to use; it has a limiter, which allows you to insert the tube to the required depth. The release of gases will be accompanied by a characteristic sound. Its disadvantage is that it is a disposable catheter and has a high cost relative to similar medical products. Cost - about 1000 rubles per package (10 pcs).

Gas outlet tube

How to place a gas tube in a newborn?

At the sight of this device, young parents often begin to panic and the question arises of how to use the gas outlet tube. It’s great if your visiting nurse or local doctor shows you how to use the tube for the first time. But even if you are left alone with a gas outlet pipe, do not worry.

The product comes with detailed instructions for use, which will tell you how to use the gas outlet tube correctly.

The most important thing is to calm down and carry out the procedure in calm conditions. If the mother feels insecure and worried, the child will also worry.

  • check the quality of the product. The gas outlet tube for newborns must be made of soft elastic materials, without manufacturing defects;
  • the size of the product must correspond to the age of the baby;
  • Before use, a reusable catheter should be boiled, and when using a disposable tube, make sure that its sterile packaging is intact.

Rules for using a gas tube for a child:

  1. Before starting the procedure, you must wash your hands.
  2. The baby should be placed on a flat, hard surface, with a clean diaper laid down first.
  3. Baby position: on the back, legs bent at the knees and brought to the tummy.
  4. We hold the child with one hand, and with the other we take the catheter closer to the rounded end.
  5. The end of the catheter inserted into the intestine is lubricated with oil or petroleum jelly.

    To reduce injury, the skin around the baby's anus should also be lubricated with oil or.

  6. Using a circular motion, the rounded end of the catheter is inserted into the anus. The insertion depth for infants up to six months is up to 2 cm, for older children – up to 4 cm. Before starting the procedure, you can mark the required depth on the tube.

    If the child is worried and you feel an obstacle when inserting the tube, you should not make any effort. It is necessary to calm, distract the baby and repeat the introduction of the tube only after he relaxes.

  7. In order to understand whether gases are coming out or not, you need to release the free end of the tube into the water and watch for the appearance of air bubbles.
  8. After the passage of gases has stopped, it is necessary to remove the inserted end of the tube using gentle rotational movements. Do not suddenly remove the tube so as not to cause discomfort to the child.

In order to completely rid the intestines of gases in newborns, the catheter must be kept in place for 10 - 15 minutes.

To speed up the process, you can give your baby a tummy massage by stroking the anterior abdominal wall around the navel clockwise.

If you gently twist the catheter in the rectum, this will stimulate the intestines, which will help the child to have a bowel movement after the gas tube is removed. After the procedure, it is necessary to wash the baby.

After using a disposable straw, it must be thrown away. Reusable straws should be washed thoroughly in running water using baby or laundry soap. It will need to be boiled before reuse.

How often can I use the gas tube?

Repeated insertion of the gas tube can be carried out at intervals of at least 4 hours. The baby's rectal mucosa is very delicate, and if the catheter is left in place for a long time, bedsores can form. You should not insert a gas outlet tube more than twice a day.

Do not resort to using the gas outlet tube too often. If a child is constantly bothered by bloating or flatulence, it is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the cause of digestive problems.

Main conclusions:

  1. Placement of a gas outlet tube in a child is indicated for colic, bloating, and flatulence.
  2. Before installing the gas outlet tube, you must read the instructions in detail and check the suitability of the product.
  3. Placing a gas tube is a procedure that only temporarily alleviates the child’s condition. You should not abuse its use in order to constantly help the baby release accumulated gases. If the need for this occurs too often, you need to contact a specialist to find out and eliminate the cause of the digestive disorder.

Introduction

Since you are reading this article, it means that you already have a desire to discover the huge world of aromas and tastes of good tobacco and the amazing universe of smoking pipes! Despite the fact that each of us during our lives forms our own ideas about certain life situations and our own attitude towards them, I will still say with some degree of confidence that if smoking a pipe is not your momentary hobby, then your life is already will never be the same as it was before. For some, this hobby proceeds calmly, for others, they devote their lives to it...

My path to the tube was not thorny, but it was long. I can’t even formulate for myself exactly why pipe smoking attracted me. Perhaps it was inspired by images in literary novels, or maybe the aroma of good tobacco in my mind painted images of courageous heroes - I don’t know. One way or another, the pipe attracted me to it. And every time, before I started, I read the existing materials and every time, except the last one, the “horror stories” about the terribly complex and incredibly responsible rituals of smoking a new pipe and other delights that accompany pipe smoking scared me away. If I knew even a tenth of what I know now, everything would be much simpler...

To give you an idea of ​​how much you can trust my words, I will say that my pipe smoking experience at the time I started working on this unique FAQ was seven years. Of course, there are a lot of people who are much more experienced than me, but my words are not based on a systematization of what I read, but on specific, personal experience. So, let's get started.

First, let's find out what a smoking pipe is and how it works.

Kimberlite pipes from which diamonds are mined are the result of underground volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago. Under the influence of high temperatures and enormous pressure, carbon received a strong crystal lattice and turned into a gemstone. Subsequently, the discovery of this property made it possible to establish the production of artificial diamonds. But natural stones, of course, are much more valuable.

The photo shows a view of the main quarry of the Udachny mining and processing plant - “Udachny”. Mining operations at the deposit of the same name began in 1971, and over the past 25 years the plant has been a leading enterprise in the Russian diamond mining industry and one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. In 2010, the Udachny Mining and Processing Plant accounted for 33.8% of diamond production in value terms and 12.5% ​​of mining operations out of the total volume of the Alrosa group.

The first large-scale industrial diamond mining began in southern Africa about a hundred years ago. In Russia, kimberlite pipes were discovered only in the middle of the last century - in Yakutia. This discovery laid the foundation for Alrosa, today the world leader in diamond mining. Thus, the company’s forecast reserves are about a third of the world’s total, and the explored reserves are sufficient to maintain the current level of production for 25 years without reducing the quality of raw materials. In numbers, the diamond reserves at the deposits owned by Alrosa amount (according to data published in May 2011) to 1.23 billion carats according to the Russian classification (1.014 billion proven and 0.211 billion probable).

For the last five years, the company has annually allocated from 2.5 to 3.5 billion rubles for geological exploration. In 2011, geological exploration costs amounted to about 4 billion rubles, and in 2012 it is planned to allocate over 5.36 billion rubles for these purposes.

At its fields, Alrosa produces about 35 million carats of diamonds per year, being the world's largest producer of this raw material in physical terms: it accounts for about 97% of Russian production and 25% of global production. At the same time, the diamond content in the ore of kimberlite pipes is traditionally low - usually several carats per ton. The Yakut deposits are advantageous in this regard, and are considered one of the richest in content.

In 2010, Alrosa's sales volume of diamonds and rough diamonds amounted to $3.48 billion, and in 2011, according to preliminary data, the company sold $5 billion worth of products - a record figure in its entire history. The company's revenue in the first half of 2011 according to IFRS amounted to 66.15 billion rubles. (+3% compared to the previous year), and net profit increased five times to 26.27 billion.

Kimberlite pipes have the shape of a cone, expanding upward, so their development usually begins with open-pit mining. The design depth of the Udachny quarry, shown in these photographs, is 600 m. To rise from the bottom of the quarry to the surface, the dump truck travels along a serpentine road about 10 km long.

And this is how mining is carried out in quarries. The drilling rig makes a hole into which the explosive is placed (the photo shows the laying process). By the way, although diamond is the hardest mineral, it is quite fragile. Therefore, during blasting operations, gentle technologies are used to preserve the integrity of the crystals as much as possible. After the explosion, the rock fragments are loaded into dump trucks and transported to the processing plant.

The company's main enterprises are located in Western Yakutia, on the territory of four regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - Mirninsky, Lensky, Anabarsky, Nyurba - in one of the most severe regions of the planet, with a sharply continental climate, a large temperature difference, in the permafrost zone. In Udachny, winter lasts up to 8 months, the temperature in winter sometimes drops to -60 C. Therefore, most of the equipment is made to order - these are machines adapted to work in low temperature conditions. As a result, work at the fields is carried out all year round in all weather conditions. Quarry work simultaneously involves a large number of equipment - wheel loaders, dump trucks, excavators. There are only about 300 heavy-duty dump trucks in the Alrosa fleet, with a carrying capacity from 40 to 136 tons - mostly BelAZ, there are also Cat and Komatsu.

After reaching a certain depth, reserves within the quarry are exhausted, and open-pit mining becomes unprofitable. On average, quarries are developed to a depth of about 600 m. However, kimberlite pipes lie underground to a depth of 1.5 km. A mine is being built for further development. Underground mining is more expensive than open-pit mining, but it is the only cost-effective way to reach deep-seated reserves. In the future, Alrosa plans to significantly increase the share of underground diamond mining. The company is now completing open-pit mining of the Udachny quarry and, in parallel, is constructing an underground mine. It is expected to launch in 2014.

The cost of switching to underground diamond mining is estimated at $3–4 billion, but in the future this should lead to cost reductions. Largely due to the construction of underground mines, Alrosa’s debt by the acute phase of the crisis in 2008 increased by 64% to 134.4 billion rubles. But the state did not leave the company in trouble: it was included in the list of systemically important enterprises, non-core gas assets were bought by VTB for $620 million, and when the demand for diamonds fell, Gokhran began to buy Alrosa’s products.

When you hear the word “diamond mines,” you involuntarily imagine a beautiful picture: a cave, within the walls of which precious stones shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. In fact, a diamond mine is not the most romantic place on earth. The walls do not sparkle with a diamond shine, and looking at the ore, it is generally difficult to imagine that the future “best friends of girls” are hidden in it. The photo shows workers in one of the ventilation horizontal openings of the future underground mine, depth - 380 meters.

The construction of mines takes place in unique mining and geological conditions. In addition to permafrost, it is complicated by aggressive groundwater, which, due to high mineralization, can not only erode the walls of mine workings, but also corrode (!) tires of dump trucks. In addition, at Alrosa’s fields there are bitumen and oil shows, which also complicate diamond mining.

In parallel, construction of ground-based facilities of the future mine is underway - for example, ventilation and heating units. The Udachny underground mine will become one of the largest in the world - its productivity is expected to be 4 million tons of ore per year. This is not the company’s first underground mine: since 1999, Alrosa has been working at the Internatsionalny mine. In addition, in August 2009, the company commissioned the Mir underground mine. When all mines reach full capacity, the share of underground mining in Alrosa's total operations is expected to rise to 40%. In total, in Russia the company mines diamonds at 9 primary and 10 alluvial deposits located in Yakutia and the Arkhangelsk region. In addition, the company owns the Catoca diamond mining enterprise in Angola, together with the local state-owned company Endiama.

What will underground mining at Udachny look like in 2-3 years? For example, here is a photograph of the already operating Mir mine. The extraction of diamond ore underground is carried out mainly by combine mining (pictured). The company's specialists are also studying the possibility of using blasthole blasting, traditional for mining - when the rock is destroyed with explosives placed in drilled holes. Then the scheme is the same: loading machines pick up the ore and transport it to the surface, from where it goes to the processing plant. Now we will go there too.

The initial stage of beneficiation of diamond ore looks the same as for any other mineral. Initially, the factory receives large pieces of rock up to several meters in size. After coarse crushing in jaw or cone crushers, the ore is fed to wet autogenous grinding mills (pictured), where rock fragments up to 1.5 m in size are crushed to a size of 0.5 m or less using water.

The controlling stake in Alrosa (51%) is federally owned (from 2006 to 2008, 10% of this stake belonged to VTB), 32% of the shares belong to the government of Yakutia, 8% are controlled by the uluses of this federal subject. In April 2011, the company was transformed from a closed joint stock company to an open joint stock company in order to be able to raise funds on the market. Since the middle of last year, Alrosa shares have been traded on Russian exchanges, but the volume of transactions on them is small due to low liquidity (only shares of minority shareholders were listed on the exchange). In the fall of 2011, Nafta-Moscow of Suleiman Kerimov became a shareholder of Alrosa and bought about 1% of the company’s shares on the market.

At the next stage, spiral classifiers separate the raw materials depending on their density and size. The operating principle is very simple. Water picks up small particles and carries them down the drain. Large particles (up to several centimeters in size) cannot be carried away by water - they settle in the lower part of the tank, after which the spiral lifts them to the top.

Now we need to somehow isolate diamonds from small pieces of ore obtained after crushing. Medium-sized pieces of ore are sent to jigging machines and to heavy-medium concentration: under the influence of water pulsation, diamond crystals are isolated and settle as a heavy fraction. The fine “powder” passes through pneumatic flotation, during which, interacting with reagents, small diamond crystals adhere to the foam bubbles.

At the next stage, all raw materials will go through the main procedure - X-ray luminescent separation (RLS).

It’s just not possible to show what happens inside the separator during its operation: the radar principle is based on constant x-ray radiation. Looking inside while the separator is operating is, to put it mildly, unsafe. If described in words, the method is based on the unique property of diamond - it is the only mineral that luminesces in X-rays. Crushed ore, irradiated with X-rays, constantly moves along the conveyor belt inside the separator. As soon as a diamond enters the irradiation zone, photocells detect the luminescent flash and the air flow “knocks out” the sparkling fragment into a separate tank.

Of course, the air flow inside the separator cannot separate just one small crystal - a certain amount of waste rock is also sifted out along with it. In fact, the entire process of ore beneficiation is aimed only at minimizing the amount of this “empty” material and then facilitating manual processing. Moreover, “manual” in the literal sense of the word: specialists select crystals, clean them and carry out the so-called “final finishing”. No matter how popular the desire to automate all production processes is now, it is absolutely impossible to do without the human factor in diamond mining. The number of employees of the company (as of December 2010) is more than 31,000 people.

But whose hands were these?

One way or another, it was under Fedor Andreev that Alrosa began to prepare for an IPO, and the company was included in the privatization program for 2012–2013. She is currently awaiting a government decision on the parameters and timing of privatization. Representatives of Yakutia stated that the republic sees no obstacles to the privatization of part of the package, but insists that control should remain with the state. Recently, the shareholders agreed that only 14% of shares will be sold on the market (7% each from the Federal Property Management Agency and the Ministry of Property of Yakutia), for which it is planned to earn about $1 billion. Presumably, the placement will take place in the fall of 2012 or spring of 2013 on the MICEX-RTS.

From the final finishing shop, all rough diamonds are sent to the Sorting Center in Mirny. Here, raw materials are divided into main groups and given an initial assessment, after which they can be sent for sale through the Alrosa Unified Sales Organization.

By the way, about half of Alrosa’s products are sold outside of Russia. Until recently, the company sold its diamonds to the world market using the services of the monopolist De Beers. However, at the beginning of 2009, they stopped cooperation and Alrosa began reorganizing its sales system, providing for sales under direct contracts and an equal approach to foreign and Russian buyers, developed its customer base and introduced the practice of “long” contracts.

In general, raw materials from each of the deposits have their own distinctive characteristics. Experienced experts, when looking at a diamond, can determine which mine it came from. But this only applies to general signs. No two diamonds are alike. Therefore, there are no organized exchange trades in diamonds, for example, like gold or copper - this is not a standardized product, each stone has unique characteristics.

This uniqueness significantly complicates both sorting and evaluation. When assessing, experts take three characteristics as a basis: size, color and purity (absence of inclusions inside, transparency). The most expensive stones are “pure water”, absolutely transparent and have no pronounced color. Each of the characteristics has different gradations. As a result, depending on size, color and other parameters, there are about 8,000 possible positions of rough diamonds.

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