The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-17
TON OF DIAMONDS
IMPORTED YEARLY
De Beers Mines Produce Most
of the Stones
HOW THEY ARE MINED
Workmen Live In Compound and Are
Searched Every Nlsht-Mechan-
lcaI Assorters Are Coming
Into Use.
HOW THEY ARE MINED

From the BUSINESS NAH hdSdnlic'
Here be diamonds
This alluring Inscription appeared as
long ago as 1850 on a map of southern
Africa. 1t was not until 1867, however,
that a Dutch farmer, finding some Moer
children playing with heavy, bright
stone, had it examined and discovered
that it was a diamond.
The result was a mad rush to South
Africa There were so many prospectors
and such confusion of claims that in 1871
the British government operated the mines
under leases.
In 1889 Cecil Rhodes and Barney Bar
nato headed the famous De Beers Consol-
idated Mines company, which came into
possession of the richest gold fields in the
world, valued at $1200O0,0O0. In 1903 the
De Beers company mined $25,000,000 worth
of diamonds at an average value of 50 a
carat.
OF this output America purchased $685.
GOO, 900 worth.
Diamonds are found in the large de-
posits of lava, or "blue ground" that
have been forced up from the depths of
the earth through vast craters in past
ages
Each mine consists of large basnllke
crater on the surface, gradually tapering
downward to an unknown depth. With
in a radius of three and half miles, five
of the worlds leading diamond mines are
located Many more in the neighboring
district are yet unworked.
At the present time the Kimberley mine
is 21O0 feet deep and the De Beers 1920
| feet Gcep. Running at right angles to
! these Shafts are main drives extending
| across the strata of blue ground at a dis
lance of 60 to 100 feet apart. From the
end of these drifts or offshoots about 11Ia
feet apart are dug through to the rim of
the rock on w opposite side.
Drifts Are Widened.
Before reaching this rim, however, they
are wdened out into chambers or gal
| leries and pillars are left at intervals to
| uphold the roof. Here the Kaff1r boys
work in gangs Of twenty-five to forty
drilling and blasting the hard blue rock,
under the direction of white miners The
walls are worked until they break through
| into another chamber, when the miners
/ turn their mechnes upon the ceilings
Here they continue until they break
| through into the level above. AS soon as
| the higher Lowell is struck and the debris
| that has fallen from the open workings
| fills the chambers the men retreat to the
next chamber, blasting the remaining pill
| lars at the same time. Upon being re-
ceived at the surface the precious earth
IS automatically conveyed to the dumping
grounds. which consists of acres and acres
| of smooth, hard ground. Here it is spread
| to a depth of not exceeding 10 inches and
allowed to remain from three to six
! months. according to the rapldity with
which 1t dlslntegrates. During this period
| 1t is turned over occasionally by harrows
4 1.trc tatttn on Dir
| When finally sent to the washing ma
chimes 1t is mixed with water and passed
| through a set of revolving screens per
| forated with holes of different sizes. 1t
| is then assorted by gangs Of white men
| who with a tool like a trowel pick out
| the diamonds The. remaining earth is
| then examined by natives for stray
| stones.
| This method of handling the stuff Is
| being superseded by mechanical assorters,
which consist of several inclined, perfor-
ated shelves coated with grease. All mat
erial other than the diamonds passes
! from one shelf to another. The diamonds
alone stick to the grease
Safeguard Used.
One of the safeguards against theft Is
the engagement of all employees for a
| period of three months, during which
time they are kept under close guard and
| when not at work are confined within
large compound surrounded by several
| high fences. the edges of which are
| covered with a fine net thus preventing
ANYTHING from being thrown outside.
A central store Is located in the COM
| pound where all necessaries can be pur-
chased at a very reasonable cost. The