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Ch. 1: The Diamond

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12                           GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES.
The majority of these diamonds were obtained from the four principal mines, viz., the Kimberley, De Beer's, Bultfontein, and Du Toit's Pan.
It is computed that up to the end of 1885 no less than 6-1/2 tons weight of diamonds had been obtained from these four mines, realising no less that £40,000,000 sterling.
Since that time the yield has gone on increasing, for, taking the five years from 1888 to 1892 inclusive, we find that the amount of carats of diamonds exported from Cape Colony was 15,G03,218 valued at £20,590,726, or about £1 6s. 5d. per carat.
Besides these deposits where the diamonds are obtained by systematic mining, there are many diamonds found in the river deposits also, particulary on the banks of the Vaal Biver, from its junction with the Orange to above Christiana. The " diggings " are between these two points, and on both banks of the Vaal Biver, a distance of about 70 miles. The amount of diamonds obtained from these river "diggings" is not an insignificant item it is computed that the value of the stones that have been here obtained must be between £2,000,000 and £3,000,000 sterling.
The original home of these diamonds is still subject to controversy, but they are all found in alluvial soil in a deposit of ferruginous gravel, mixed with red sand, lime, and boulders.
In Brazil the diamonds are found in a group of rocks called the Itacolumite series, because a peculiar form of sandstone called Itacolumite occurs there In thin pieces portions of this sandstone are flexible, and can be bent back-ward and forward without breaking. This form of sandstone is associated with a group of schists containing specular iron ore. Traversing these rocks are certain veins of clayey material containing diamonds. In the quartzites of an overlying series diamonds are also found. Probably the lower meta-morphic series was the original home of the diamond in this locality.
It is stated that in Borneo the diamond has been found in serpentines although they are generally obtained from the diamondiferous gravels in the neighbourhood of Martapura.
In Borneo the diamond is usually associated with gold, platinum, and gem-stones.
There appears to be little doubt but that the earliest known diamonds came from India, and it is almost certain that down to comparatively modern times no other locality was known where diamonds were obtained in any quantity. Although obtained at one time in large quantities, the yield of diamonds from the fields now worked is small. The export trade is of little importance, the industry having been virtually destroyed by the vast quantities of diamonds obtained in Brazil during the last century, and is South Africa during the last thirty years. The Indian mines were originally spread over a large portion of the country, extending from near the River Granges, in Bundelcund, to the Pennaur Biver in the Madras Presidency The diamonds are generally found in superficial and alluvial deposits of comparatively recent formation, although they have been stated to be found
Ch. 1: The Diamond Page of 96 Ch. 1: The Diamond
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