Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-02-25
DIGGING BLACK DIAMONDS.
How the Precious stones Are Un-
earthed In Brazil.


earthed In Brazil.
The black diamond is an important
article of commerce not because II is
destined to embellish the hand OF rem
mime grace but because OF the iact
that it has been widely applied IN m
dustry. where it is almost as valuable
as the white fellow. The home OF the
hlack diamond is Brazil, the classical
land OF the diamond, the richest BEDS
of the mineral having been found in the
nrovince 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 II the magicai
word diamond had never been applied
n the substance there is no doubt tnat
70 this day the black diamond would pc
a thing unknown. However, the raVor
which this mineral enjoys Is OF very
recent date, for twenty years ago lts
properties were unknown and tne
trade In the stone was practically noth-
ing.
The constantly increasing perfection
of boring instruments brought OUT tne
value of the black diamond, the use Oh
diamond point drills now having De-
come so general that the price OF inc
mineral has in consequence rapidly III
creased. Today the diamond has be-
come of prime necessity In working.
temnered metals, saving OF marbles,
niercing of tunnels and galleries anu
IN mines. At the time Of the Inaugural
tion of the Laboratory Of Arts ana
trades, July 1, 1903, a circular saw pro-
vided with diamond points produced
surprising results, cutting into tnin
slices the hardest materials.
On the banks Of the Sac Jose we ma
, the traces Of the first exploitation OF
, the mines by the natives, the Garim-
neros. The black diamond, however,
} having no commercial value, did lot
l attract these people, and they were ap-
| narently ignorant of the real character
8 Of the mineral.
: From the report of an engineer VINO
: explored the region In 1888 we learn
e that one day the diamond diggers ols-
q covered black stone In Sac jose
They took the stone to one OF their MUS
4 and night to discover its nature byI
attempting to crack It All thelr ei-
>. forts were fruitless, the stone resist
IS ing the most powerful hammers, ana
IS after a time It was thrown back INTO
e the river. The stone weighed aDout
d 10000 carats, and at the present price
IS Of $40 a carat represents loss OF saoo''
II 900.
" Tn. exploitation Of the Brazilian dia'
Is mond mines by the Garimperos, II IL
b unnecessary to say, was not scientinc
t. The creyices Of the rocks are explored
with the hand, the gravel being taker
away in little barrels which are carried
ON the head. Attempts have been mao
K 70 lessen the time of the work by orlv
is ing for the mineral, but the violence o
he the stream is such during the RAIN
tn season that this plan has been but hftl
g, adopted. The only method which va,
as produce results and the one which WI
IT. shortly be put In operation Is that Q
I'd draining. Dams VIII be erected "
feet apart, and centrifugal pumps WI
se. be installed for the purpose OF drawn
lst of the water. The results OF che wor
w cannot be question Of doubt ]udsln
lly from the past performances OF thes
ne diamond mines.
Us The question naturally arises, Wn
&C. have the diamonds been found IN I'd
he Sac Jose? The answer to this Is nc
he difficult, and is given when we sta,
he that the original rock, which formeri
ka occupied the high plateau, has pee
ire gradually distintegrated, the deorls
int the rock being carried by rains into u
i. Sac Jose. Because Of their density u
black and white diamonds were CO..
cealed under the sand, together VII
er- the mineral accessories which surroul
Us them and which are the indications
to the precious stones. Thus in the cour
ies of years these beds have been forme
ner beds the richness Of which Is lnca
by culable.-World Wide Magazine.