The Opelousas courier., 1905-06-10
BLACK DIAMONDS IN BRAZIL.
Not Used as Jewelry, But in Demand
for BORING Machines.

tor Eorinq machines.
1he black diamond Is an important
article of commerce, not because it 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 III
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 a thing unknown.
However. tie favor which this mineral
enjoys is Of very recent date, for ~
years ago its properties were I'M
known, and the trade in the stone was
practically nothing.
The constantly Increasing porfcc-
ton Of boring instruments brought
out the value Of the black diamond,
the use of diamond point drills now
having become 50 general that the
price of the mineral has in CCnSe<
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, n in mines. At the
time Of the Inauguration of the Lab
Oratory of Arts and Trades, July l,
1868, q 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 or
the first exploitation Of the mines by
the natives, the Gaiimperos. Ihe
black diamond, however, having no
commercial Waite, did not attract these
people, and they were apparently lG-
hOrant of tie real character of the
mineral. From the report of an engi-
neeI WhG explored the region in 1888
we learn that one day the diamond
AlSSCiS uI5tot II q DiG1h ""D'S - |
Sac Jose. They took the stone to one
of their huts and sought to discover
it's nature by attempting to crack 1t.
All their efforts we're fruItieSS, the
stone resisting the most powerful
and after a time It was
back into the river. lEs
stone weighed about 10000 kaFas5.
and at the present price Of $40 a EazS9s
represents a loss Of 100000,
The exploitation Of the Brazilian
diamond mines by the Garimperos, 1t
Is unnecessary to say, was not ScieH
tifc. The crevices OF the rock are
explored with the hand, the gravel be
ing taken away in little barrels, which
are carried on the head. Attempts
have been made to lessen the time Of
he work by diving for the mineral,
)ut the violence of the stream is such
Turing the rainy season that this plan
las been but little adopted. The only
method which will produce results,
and the enc which will shortly be put
n operation, is that Of draining. Dams
VIII DS G1SCltu OUU lSCl apart ailu StiH
rifugal pumps will be installed for
he purpose of drawing off the water.
The results of the work can not be a
of doubt, judging from the
)ast performances OF these diamond
mines.
Tha question naturally arises, Why
ave the diamonds been found in the
Gao Jose? The answer to this is not
I~ificult, and is given when We state {
hat the original ~rock-Which former {
y occupied the high plateau-has .
zen gradually disintegrated, the de-
ris OF the rock being carried by rains
lto the Sac Jose. Because of their
ensity the black and white diamonds
5ere concealed under the sand, to-
ethe, with the mineral accessories
surround them and which are
he Indications of the precious stones.
'hus, in the course of years, these
eds have been formed, beds the rich
ess Of which is Observation-Disclosures
Vide Magazine.