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The Jagersfontein Mine (South
Africa)
This mine is in the Orange River Colony, near
Fauresmith and the Riet river, and about eighty miles
south and a little east of Kimberley. In 1870 the
first diamond was found in Jagersfontein by a farmer
with the name of De Klerk. This was about three years
before Kimberley started, and it was also the first time
a diamond was found in its mother stone - blue ground or
as it's now known, Kimberlite. This mine is actually the
oldest diamond mine of its kind in the world. The
diamond mining was done by pick, shovel and dynamite and
so the miners of yesteryear created the world's biggest
vertical handmade hole.
It was discovered about the same time as the
Kimberley mines, and a controlling interest in it
was secured by the De Beers Consolidated Mines
shortly after the establishment of that company.
Jagersfontein was owned by a widow named Visser and
the farm was worked by her overseer, De Klerk who in
August, 1870, found a diamond weighing fifty carats
on the farm. This led to the discovery of the
Jagersfontein mine by the diggers who flocked there
and worked allotted areas of 20 feet square on a
royalty of £2 per month to the widow. In 1888 the
New Jagersfontein Exploration Company was
incorporated and gradually absorbed the various
interests.
The shape of the mine is a rough oval, and the size
of it about 1,500 by 2,000 feet, and it contains
1,124 claims. It is worked down in concentric
terraces. The three lowest are carried down 360, 410
and 450 feet, with a small area below, 480 feet
deep, and late reports claim that a depth of 700
feet in the open has been reached. So well has this
been done that the system serves as a model to mines
discovered later, in their open working.
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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Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
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
determining the location of a diamond
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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Jagersfontein Diamond Mine
