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Dutoitspan Diamond Mine -
(South Africa)
The Dutoitspan was
the first mine discovered amongst other Kimberley mines,
and is also the largest. Like the others, it began with
individual diggers, then the grouping of claims in the
hands of small owners and speculators who floated them
into stock companies, and in turn consolidated, until at
the time of the De Beers Consolidation in 1889.
Diamonds had been found in the dry bed of a stream
on the Jagersfontein in August, but the first
opening on a diainondiferous volcanic pipe in Africa
was made in 1870, when prospectors discovered
diamonds on the Du Toit's Pan, owned by a Boer
farmer named Van Wyk. After trying in vain to
regulate the diggers and collect license fees, he
sold his farm for £2,600. The farm lay about
twenty-four miles south and a little east of Pniel
on the Vaal, where the diggers first made their
headquarters. When the De Beers began to work the
mine, there was about a hundred feet of water in it.
Pumps were installed and about 296,000,000 gallons
removed. On August 13, 1901, a shaft in the reef was
begun and sunk to 775 feet. The quality of the
diamonds in this mine has improved with depth. Most
of them show color and many are fancy colored.
It is the second
largest of the Kimberley mines. Possibly it has some
subterranean connection with its immediate neighbor, as
it is reported that the Dutoitspan and the Bultfontein
are dipping to-wards each other at the low levels now
being worked. In the eighties, after records were kept,
the output from this mine ranged from 500,000 to 700,000
carats per annum, and sold for an average price of 18s.
to 22S. per carat.
The diamonds of the Bultfontein are usually small,
white octahedrons. The color is very good, but the
majority of them are found with flaws. Colored
stones are rarely found. Open working was carried to
a greater depths in this mine than the other
Kimberley mines. Four hundred feet was the usual
limit, but the Bultfontein was dug to a depth of 460
feet...
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Read about all Famous Diamond Mines
The 1867 discovery of diamonds in
the Cape Colony, now a province in South Africa, radically
modified not only the world's supply of diamonds but also
its conception of them. As annual world diamond production
increased more than tenfold in the following 10 years, a
once extremely rare material became more accessible to
Western society with its growing wealth, science learned
that diamonds came from volcanoes, and everyone learned of
Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato, Kimberley, and De Beers.
Today South Africa maintains its position as a major diamond
producer although diamond mining started in India around the
14th century and continued ...
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Wolrd's Famous Diamonds
The story of the Agra Diamond begins
in 1526 when Babur, the first Mogul
emperor (1483-1530) took possession
of Agra after defeating the Rajah of
Gwailor in battle. Babur was the son
of Omar Sheik, King of Ferghana (now
Turkestan),...
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World's Largest Diamonds
The largest faceted diamond in the world is the Golden
Jubilee, weighing 545.67 carats. It is a Fancy Brownish-Yellow color and
"fire rose cushion cut." It is unusual also because it has a certain
type of rare color banding. The second largest faceted diamond in the
world is the Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan I. It weighs
530.20 carats and is a pear shape with 74 facets. The third largest
diamond in the world is the Incomparable. It is a golden yellow-orange
color, pear shaped, and weighs 407 carats. The fourth largest faceted
diamond in the world is the Cullinan II. It was cut from the same stone
as the Star of Africa - aka Cullinan I. It weighs 317.40 carats and is a
cushion cut...
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Diamonds being easily transportable and
being of high value allows them to be
moved to the most efficient and economic
locations for further processing. The
several factors that are considered in
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cutting facility...
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Diamonds in Literature and Poetry
Diamonds have taken an important space in our ideas and
dreams of celebration, enjoyment, expression of love and
happiness. There are famous and popular quotes about or
referencing diamonds. Some that you may have heard or
read and other that you may not have. Read and
enjoy......
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The Diamond Cartel
When a gang of thieves with a stolen bulldozer plowed into London's
Millennium Dome in November 2000 to steal a 203-carat diamond from a
display sponsored by De Beers, Nicky Oppenheimer, De Beers's chairman,
hailed the botched heist as wonderful publicity:
"If only we could do this once every six
months. We could do away with the advertising department altogether."
For more than 100 years, the name De Beers has evoked
all glamour and mystery radiated by a diamond. Through
shrewd marketing and careful manipulation of the market,
the South African company. Learn about the over 100
years of the Oppenheimer family's grip over diamond
trade of the entire world.....
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History of Diamonds
The history of diamonds. Before the Medieval era Diamonds were worn
rough, or cut and polished only on their upper surfaces. It was in this
form that diamonds used to ornament temples, goblets, reliquaries, and
crowns. The history of cutting Diamonds dates back to the beginning of
the 1400's in Paris. Diamonds became popular in jewelry and from this
time the history of diamonds accelerated and many famous diamonds were
cut. Read on the history timeline of diamonds details important dates
relating to famous diamonds and the history of diamonds....
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Read about Diamond History, Diamond Facts..
A symbol of innocence, justice,
faith and strength, the diamond was believed to make its wearers
courageous and victorious over their enemies. When set in gold and worn
on the left side, it held the power to drive away nightmares and soothe
savage beasts. Diamonds were even thought to be so powerful that they
could stop lechery. Diamonds have lured and fascinated us....
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Information Summary...
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Dutoitspan Diamond Mine
