The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-28
nLAck DIAMONDS IN BRAZIL.
Not Used as JeweIry, aut in Demand
for Boring Machines.

WI OSCn az SSWOllyI Gut w OSHldHu
for Boring Machines.
The black diamond is an important
article Of commerce, not because 1t is
destined to embellish the hand Of
feminine grace, but because of the fact
that it has been widely applied in in
dustry, where it is almost 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 this day the black dia-
mond would be thing unknown.
However, the favor which this mineral
enjoys is of very recent date, for 20
years ago its properties were I'M
known, and the trade in the stone was
practically nothing.
The constantly increasing perfec-
ton of boring instruments brought
out the value of the black diamond,
the use of diamond point drills now
having become so general that the
price of the mineral has in conse-
quence rapidly increased. Today the
diamond has become of prime neces'
sity in working tempered metals, saw
ing of marbles, piercing OF tunnels
and galleries, and in mines. AT the
time of the Inauguration of the Lab
oratory of Arts and Trades, July l,
1908, circular saw, provided with
diamond points, produced surprising
results, cutting into thin slices the
hardest of materials. On the banks
of the Sac Jose we find the traces OF
the first exploitation of the mines by
the natives, the Garimperos. The
black diamond, however, having no
commercial value, did not attract these
people, and they were apparently 1g-
norant of the real character Of the
mineral. From the report of an engi-
neer who explored the region in 1858
we learn that one day the diamond
diggers discovered black stone IN
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 resisting the most powerful
hammers, and after time it was
thrown back into the river. The
stone weighed about 10000 karats,
and at the present price of $40 a karat
represents loss of 100000.
The exploitation Of the Brazilian
diamond mines by the Garimperos, it
is unnecessary to say, was not sclen
tific. The crevices of the rock are
ing taken away in little barrels, which
are carried on the head. Attempts
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 which will shortly be put
in operation, is that of draining. Dams
will be erected 800 feet apart and CEN
trifugal pumps will be installed for
the purpose of drawing off the water.
The results of the work can not be a
question of 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 we state
that the original rock-which former
ly occupied the high plateau-has |
been gradually disintegrated, the de- |
bris of the rock being carried by rains |
into the Sac Jose. Because of their /
density the black and white diamonds |
were concealed under the sand, to, |
gether with the mineral accessories |
which surround them and which are |
the indications of the precious stones. |
Thus, in the course Of years, these |
beds have been formed, beds this rich
ness of which is Observation-Disclosures |
Wide Magazine.
Rats in the Service of Science.