The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-11-28
diamonds.

OF all the countries which have fur
nished diamonds, India has been known
Us prolific source for the longest period
of time. Perhaps the most famous OF dia-
mond fields there are the Golconda Mines.
Thousands Of people have found and many
do still find employment there, although
much OF the wealth has already been eX-
hausted. During the reign of Louis XIV,
Tavernicr visited the Orient to collect dia-
monds and precious stones for his king.
1T that time labout 1880 he found 10000
persons engaged in searching for diamonds
in the mines Of Ellore, in India. Next
to India in importance is South America.
The mines in Brazil were opened in 1927,
and the best Of them are situated north of
the Rio Janeiro. On the Rio Jequitin-
houha and Rio Pardo the most remunera-
tive fields are found. Other placers have
yielded very good diamonds however.
On Bornco in the Ural Mountains, and
in Australia, diamonds have been found.
In the United States they have been col
lected at several localities, but only in
comparatively isolated specimens. Dia-
monds have been obtained from North
Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Califor-
precious stones in what was termed the
Arizona diamond fields situated in the
Northwestern Colorado, is probably still
too fresh in the memory of everybody 10
require special mention. Diamonds were
certainly found there, but, to use popu-
lar phrase, "they had not grown there
Recently, discoveries Of extensive dia
.nond fields hBye been made in Africa.
They are situated on and near the Orange
and Eaal Rivers, and are being worked
with energy. Although their discovery
dates back but a comparatively short
time it appears that the existence Of dia-
monds there was already known during
the last century. According to DR.. J. W.
Morton, the natives have for a long time
used diamonds from this locality to drill
their stones and formerly made periodical
--::4 81 .:-.a ,>f,lsz of atzri4L
As IS frequently the case, the present
impetus in that region to mining opera
tons was given Ivy the accidental discoy-
cry Of a diamond. 1t was found in the
hands of some children who were playing
with the pretty pebble.
Wherever diamonds are found, they oc-
cur in redeposited material. Riyer-drilt
or bOulder-clay may contain them. No
matrx for them has been recognized with
certainty rs yet, although it is claimed
that the itacolumite flexible sandstone
of Brazil contains them. This assertion
is scarcely proved, however, and even if it
were so, this very itaculumite is but the
product Of re deposition 1t may be re-
garded as a significant fact; perhaps, that
the localities of North Carolina and Geor-
gia, where diamonds have been found, are
not far removed from occurrences of fiexi-
bic sandstone. In the South African dia-
mond fields the gems are contained in a
conglomerated mass. 1t is composed
mainly Of volcanic material, but has eyi-
IDENTIFY been deposited by water In its
general ,sohysical character it may be
compared TO the GLUE cement of Cali
tonia, which is aurifcrous.
OF all these localities mentioned India
has produced by far the largest number
of celebrated diamonds. The largest dia-
mond of which We have any knowledge, is
mentioned by Tayenier. 1t was found il
1850, was in the possession of the Great
Mogul at the time of Tayenier'S visit, and
weighed $40 carats. The present "Great
Mrgul" weighs 21a carats, and may be a
portion Of the original enc.