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VII.
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DU TOIT I.
Beautiful
but a little " Off-Colour "—South African Diamonds —Their Origin and
Character—Enormous Increase of— Estimated Value of " Claims " in the
Mining Districts — Peculiar Delicacies of the Straw Tint—Stones that
Rival those of Brazil and India—" Bort."
HE
latest great " find " in South Africa, and exceeded in size only by one
other stone from that region, was discovered in 1878 on a "claim" at Du
Toit's Pan, where a greater proportion of large diamonds has been
produced than in any other diamantiferous district in the world. It is
of a light " off-colour,"* and free from flaws, but not of the finest
water, though by skilful treatment it may prove a magnificent stone.
Since its discovery, the value of the claims, especially in the
Kimberley district, has risen enormously. Claims originally disposed of
at the rate of £50 per twenty square feet are now realising many
thousand pounds. Precious Stones and Gems contains some
exclusive and interesting information upon South African diamonds.
Without trespassing unduly upon the chapter which deals with the
subject from various points of view, there are a few facts that may very properly be repeated in this place. It is
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