The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-03-10
By Sylvester ]. McAtee

AS America at last a great dia-
~ mond mine that rivals in pro-
ouctivenesss the famous jewel
pits OF South Africa? VIII the
names OF California and OrOville some
day be as closely associated as KIM
beriey and Transvaal. with the brilliant
stones that have been the gems OF all
ages2 A fervid Affirmative is the CON
servative hope and expectation OF n J.
cooney, diamond expert OF interna-
tional reputation and an authority on
diamond mining He has but lately
completed the purchase and proceeded
well with the development Of a prop
erty e mile and half north OF orc
Vile. which displays 10 his experienced
eye every indication OF true diamond
pipe"
Cooney is a Kontuckian who has been
mining for thirty-one wears He Ia
bored for tho upbunding OF Colorado
and fits admission 10 the Union. and he
has prospected over the length and
breadth OF the Sierrss and Rockies In
the middle nineties he went to South
Africa and took up tho study OF dia-
Esonds and diamond mining His knowl-
edge OF geology. mineralogy and tech
nicsl mining engineering. when coupled
with the experience gained in the AfrI-
can mines. quickly made him an ex-
pert whose services as prospector and
locator Of diamond properties were H.
great demand.
After years or varied experience Do
returned 10 America and to the West
which had been his home From his
clese acquaintance with the geological
formation OF the Sierras. together with
his careful observations in the Trans
wal, he had become possessed by the
notion that diamond mines could be
found IN his native hand. lie was de-
termined TO find such g mine.
Diamonds have been found in various
parts OF this country, but in such small
numbers as TO preclude the idea Of
mining. They have been mere single
stones or small pockets carried down
from some unknown source and ind
ing resting places in alluvial deposits
or glacial drift sands. At Manchester.
NJ Virginia. the Dewey diamond, weigh
ing twenty-three csrsts. was found IN
1855. North and South Carolins and
Georgia have produced ali told some
twenty diamonds varying from one TO
four csrsts. Some stones have been
found IN Wisconsin, IN the Kettle Mo-
raine district, one or which weighed
twenty-one csrats. But in none OF
These places has there been a true dia-
noond mine. The conditions and indi-
cations OF what is commonly known az
y diamond pipe appear to be nxed and
almost invar1sble. Where these 1ndi-
cations are present the stonss are
nearly always to be found. and with
out these indications mining IN IN vain.
The conditions are most marked in
the South African Jewel pits
Cooney left the Trsnsvaal district
with the reputation OF an expert, and
undertook the task OF finding dis-
nnond mine on this continent, well
knowing the ample reward that would
follow success IN HIS guest For the
United States buys two-thiros OF the
worlds product OF the precious stones,
10 the value OF s4o,ooo,ooo annually.
The OroviIle Diamonds
wherever diamonds had been found
there Cooney went, but everywhere
they were only slluvial deposits. Years
ago a very few small diamonds had
been discovered in the placer mines at
Oroviiie Here Cooney found some
thing that interested him. About a
mile and = half north OF the town two
little rivulets cut the west bank OF the
Feather River. Something IN the for
NATION OF the strata on the banks held
HIS attention and he followed them TO
their source They both ended in a
suan basin in the midst OF an orchard.
Going 90 the bank OF Rideout, Smith
a Co., which owned the property, he
secured permission to prospect. osten-
sfbly for gold. The basin was a saucer
like depression. from which the over
burden Of soil had been hydrsuiicked by
The placer operations Of earlier years.
had the quest for gold NOT exposed the