Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-13
DIGGING BLACK DIAMONDS.

The black diamond is an important
 article of commerce. not because it is destined to cmbellisl the hand of fem. mine grace, but because of the fact
 that it has been widely applied in in,
 GuStry, where it is almost as valuable as the white fellow. The home of the
 black diamond is 'Brazils the fclasSical land of the diamond, the richest beds
 of the mineral having been found i'll
 the province of Bahia and on the
 banks 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
 10 this day the black diamond would i be thing unknown. However, the ! favor which this mineral enjoys is of
 very recent date, for twenty years ago 1 its properties were unknown and the
 trade in the stone was practically noth- | ing.
 ! The constantly increasing perfection , of boring instruments brought out ihe { value of the black diamond, the use i Uf diamond point drills now having be-
 come so general that the price of the | mineral has in consequence rapidly in creased. To-day the diamond has be- come of prime necessity in working 1 tempered metals. saving of marbles, | piercing of tunnels and galleries and III mines. At the time of the inaugu- ration Of the Laboratory of Arts and
 Trades. July 1. 1903. q circular saw ! provided with diamond points produced ] surprising results. cutting into thin l slices the hardest materials.
 On the banks of the Sac Jose We ind the traces of the first exploitation i c.; the mines by the natives. the Gar ! imppros. The black diamond. however
 having no commercial value. did not
 attract these people. and they were ap.
 uirently ignorant of the real character
 Of inc mineral.
 From the report of an engineer who explored the region in 1S5S we learn 1 that one day the diamond diggers dis | covered a black stone in Sac Jose. They | i"uk tlIc stone Io one of their huts and sought to discover it's nature by at 1 tempting to crack il. All their efforts were fruitltSS. the stone resisting their u'oSt powerful hammers. and after a | tune it was thrown back into the river The stone weighed about lo.N0 carats. 1 aud at the present price of $i0 carat represents a Joss nf Si"n.Ti0.
 The exploitation of the Brazilian diamond mines by thc ';arimpcros. it is unnecessary to say. was not scien- fife. The crcyiccS of thc rocks are e1- I,,nrc,i with the hand. th" gravel being taken away in little barrels which are carried on the head Attempts have been made tv lessen the time of tine work by diving for the mineral. but the violence of the stream is such dur ing tbc rainy season that this plan has been but little adopted. The only only method which will produce re suits and the ole which will shortly t.c pui in operation is that "f draining. Dams will Ice erected 3rD feet apart and centrifugal pumps will be installed for the purpose of drawing off the water. The results of inc work cannot h,. a question of doubt. Judging from the I,ast performances of these dia- uIuni mines
 The gH,stion naturally arises why lave tls. diamonds been found in the Ss.o Jose: The answer to this Is not difficult. an.l is given when We state Il'at the original rock-wlIich formerly occupied the high Plateau-has been gradually Iisiniezratel. the debris of the rOck bs!nc carried by rains into line >9O Jose BesasS.. 0f their density ihc black and white diamonds wer. cgust.llesI under the sand together wl'h the mineral a,.,-SSories which sErTo5IEll them and wIiich are the in 'iicsIiOz1s "f tho I'-.-,-i"u> stones Thus.
 % the cOurSs- 0f years tiI.-~. be.Is have is-e1 formed. Ire-sIS the richness of ' hieh i> incalcEEIabl.-W WorM Wide Magazine