The evening times., 1898-09-07
AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS.
The True Source of the Gems Has
Not Been Found
From Public opinion.)
-l--sI IL ..s.. l.

(From Public opinion)
Although considerable numbers of dia-
monds are continually being found in
Australia, chiefly in New South Wales,
the true matriX has never been discover
ed. In that colony there is evidence in
every case to show that the stones were
drifted from their original matrix to the
places where they were found, but up to
the present its locale and nature remain
unknown. When both have been ascer-
tained 1t is probable that New South
Wales will become one of the leading dia-
mond-producing countries of the world
but the work of prospecting is difficult
tedious and costly, by reason of the
mountainous character of the country In
which gems are principally found. The
finest stones yet known were obtained
several years ago from the Cudgegong
RlVer, rising in the Australian Alps and
running through auriferous country in
the northwestern portion of the COLONY
NO regular search is being made at the
present times for the stones the gold
mining industry being found of a more
certain and Temunerative character. but
al Bingera and other portions of the New
England districts, in the northern portion
OIL the colony, diamond mining is actively
carried on, the stones generally being
small and many ''off-color" Others of
the same country. Not few of the
stones obtained at either place would be
classed as first-water by the expert. he
ing Whlte, clear, bright and free from
speck or flaw; but their extreme hard
ness makes the cost of cutting expen
siVe in proportion 10 their size.
considerable numbers of diamonds from
Blngera, lnverell and other places are
annually sold in Europe the larger stones
eiiheing good prices. Thus, a Bingera
diamond, which, when cut weighed
slightly under a carat, was disposed of in
London for 914 los Sd; another. with q
greensh tinge, weighing over half a carat
when cut bringing 910 The stones aver
age about four to the carat in their rough
state, the prices realized being from As
Cd to IS per carat. For diamond drills
and similar industrial purposes the New
South wales stones are simply invaluable
ana are preferred to those of other dia-
mond-producing countries. At Militia gong
between 20 and so miles south of sydney
diamonds are found in a drift, associated
with other gems. Some of the stones are
OF much deeper tinge than the straw
color which makes them "off'' and are
regarded as having peculiar beauty of
their own yellow diamonds
In 1885 some good diamonds were found
an one OF the western god districts,
"heie soiie aiuEiai m n)ng was being
carried on, at depth of from twenty to
fifty feet. One of the stones, capable of
being cut into frs class brilliant of
four karats, was sold for s75. Althoug.
diamonds are met with in numerous
places in New South Wales, often many
miles apart from each other. their
sources remain undiscovered to this dav.
The aIbraded appearances of the stones
| generally shows that they must have
Travelled considerable distance, al
| thouggh their extreme hardness has
| caused the signs of abrasion to be less
| conspicuous than in Brazilian and ether
| diamonds. 1t is believed that the matrix
| of the Bingera and Invereil diamonds will
| be found somewhere near the great divid-
ing range, and that as it is approache
| the stones obtained viii increase in size
| The ancient river bed down which they
were carried has yet to be discovered.