WHEN WERE DIAMONDS FIRST DISCOVERED?

 

The first diamond deposits were discovered in India and there after a few were found in Borneo. In 1725 diamonds were discovered in Brazil, and for some time Brazil led the world’s diamond production. In 1867 the first diamond deposit was discovered in South Africa, and since then, this country has led the world’s diamond production. At first most mining was alluvial (above the surface). A method known as “panning” was used, where they used a sieve and worked the surface layers of sediment on the river beds. Today, mining is mostly underground and highly sophisticated, where a main shaft is sunk and then levels are blasted into diamond bearing rock, called kimberlite. On average, one ton of diamond-bearing rock yields half a carat of diamond, so it is incredibly labour intensive. Namibia has large alluvial deposits of diamonds, which are mined off the Namibian desert coast.

In recent years, Russia has become the second largest producer of commercial diamonds, with numerous alluvial deposits of large stones being found in eastern Siberia. Before 1949 they had mostly industrial quality, not gem quality diamonds.