Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
LAND OF BLACK DIAMONDS.
Precious Stones Found in Abundance
in Bed of Brazilian River.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
The black diamond Is an important arti-
Gle of commerce, not because it is destined
to embeliish the head of feminine grace,
but because of the fact that it has been
widely applied in industry. where it is al
most as valuable as its white fellow The
home of the black diamond is Brazil. the
classical land of the diamond. the richest
beds of the mineral having been found in
the province of Bahia and on the banks and
in the bed of the Sac Jose river. The stone,
which is perfectly opaque. is not beautiful,
and if the magical word diamond had never
been applied to the substance there is no
doubt that to tbs Cay the back diamond
would be Il thing unknown. However, the
favor which this mineral enjoys is OF re-
cent date, for twenty years ago It's prop
critics were unknown and the trade in the
stone was practically no: hing.
The constantly increasing perfection OF
boring instruments brought out the value
of the black diamond. the use of diamond
point drills now having tecome so general
that the price of the material has in conSe-
quence rapidly increased. Today tie dia-
mond has become of Urine necessity I'D
working tempered metals, saving of mar
bles, piercing of tunnels and galleries and
in mines. At the time of tie Inauguration
of the Laboratory of Arts and Trades on
July /, FOB. circular slw provided with
diamond points produced surprising results,
terials. On the banks OF the Sac Jose are
found traces of the first exp OFT ton of the
mines by the natives. the Garimperos. The
black diamond however, having no com
mercial value, did not attract these people,
and they were apparently ignorant Of the
real character of the mineral.
From the report of an engineer Wfo ex-
plored the region in 1883 1t is learned that
one day the diamond diggers discovered a
black stone In the Sac Jose They took the
stone to one of their huts and sought to
discover its nature by attempting to crack
It, All their efforts were fruitless, the stone
after a time 1t was thrown back into the
river The stone weighed about 1000
carats and al the price of $40 carat rep
resents a loss of 100000
The exploitation of the Brazilian diamond
mines by the Garimperos. 1t is unneces-
sary to say was not scientific. The crew
ices of the rocks are explored with the hand,
the gravel being taken away In little par
rels. which are carried on the heao. AZ
tempts have been made to lessen the time
of the work by diving for the mineral, but
the violence Of the stream Is such during
the rainy season that this plan has been but
little adopted. The only method which Will
produce results, and the one winch Will
shortly be put in operation, Is that OF DRAM
ing Dams will be erected 300 feet apart
and centrifugal pumps Will be fnstaileo LOT
the purpose of drawing OH the water. ne
results of the work cannot be question Oh
doubt Judging from the past performances
of these diamond mines.
The question naturally arises. Why have
the diamonds been found in the Sac Jose
The answer to this is not difficult. and Is
given when it is said that the original rock
which formerly occupied the hish pla-
teau-has been gradually disntegrated, the
debris of the rock being carried by rain
into the Sac Jose. Because of their density
the black and white diamonds were con-
cealed under the sand, together with the
mineral accessories which surround them
and which are the indications of the pre-
ciSus stones. Thus in the course OF years
these beds have been formed, beds the rlch-
ness of which Is incalculabe