Ancient Origins: India’s Role
India holds the distinction as the world’s earliest known source of diamonds, with discoveries dating back over 2,500 years. For millennia, India remained the sole global supplier of these coveted stones. The earliest finds were primarily alluvial deposits, meaning diamonds were collected from riverbeds, particularly in the Golconda region. Rivers like the Krishna, Godavari, and Penner were significant sites for these early extractions.
Ancient Indian miners developed methods to sift through river sands and gravels to find diamonds. During the peak period from the 16th to 18th centuries under the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the Golconda Sultanate alone housed 23 of India’s 38 diamond mines, with the Kollur Mine being particularly active. These early diamonds were not merely ornamental; they held deep cultural and religious significance. They were used as religious icons, talismans, and were believed to possess healing properties and offer protection in battle. Ancient texts referred to diamonds as “vajra,” symbolizing a thunderbolt due to their strength. This historical dominance continued until new sources emerged in the 18th century, leading to a decline in India’s monopoly.
New Sources Emerge: Brazil’s Contributions
The global diamond landscape underwent a significant transformation in the early 18th century with the discovery of new deposits in Brazil. Diamonds were first found in Brazil by artisanal miners who were primarily seeking gold along the banks of the Jequitinhonha River in the state of Minas Gerais. The village of Arraial do Tijuco, later renamed Diamantina, became a central point for these discoveries. Early records indicate that diamonds were initially discarded by gold miners who did not recognize their value.
Brazilian diamonds were largely sourced from alluvial deposits, recovered from riverbeds and unconsolidated sediments through panning and dredging. For approximately 150 years, Brazil served as the world’s primary supplier of gem-quality diamonds. The influx of Brazilian diamonds profoundly impacted the global market, making diamonds more accessible and altering their perceived rarity. While Brazil’s output decreased dramatically after the emergence of African sources in the 1870s, it has remained a continuous, albeit smaller, source of diamonds for three centuries.
The Age of Abundance: South Africa’s Impact
The mid-19th century ushered in a new era for diamonds with transformative discoveries in South Africa. The first authenticated diamond, known as the “Eureka” diamond, was found by 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs near the Orange River in 1867. This 21.25-carat rough stone, initially dismissed, was later confirmed as a diamond by mineralogist Dr. William Guybon Atherstone. Just two years later, in 1869, the 83.5-carat “Star of South Africa” was discovered by a shepherd in the same region, further igniting interest.
These initial alluvial finds sparked a massive diamond rush. A pivotal moment arrived in 1871 when diamonds were discovered in their primary source rock, known as kimberlite, named after the town of Kimberley where these deposits were extensively found. This shift from scattered alluvial deposits to concentrated kimberlite pipes revolutionized mining, enabling large-scale, open-pit operations. The Kimberley mines accounted for an estimated 95% of the world’s diamonds during the 1870s and 1880s. The sheer scale of these South African discoveries made diamonds more widely available than ever before, profoundly impacting global supply, prices, and laying the groundwork for the modern diamond industry.