ALLUVIAL DIAMONDS

S.S. Nayak
 Introduction
What is diamond?
• Diamond is a form of carbon crystallising in cubic system.
• It is the hardest naturally occurring substance on the
earth.
• Among the gemstones diamond reigns supreme as it is the
most lasting and valuable by virtue of its exceptional
physical (extreme hardness), optical (high
refractive index and dispersion) and chemical
(resistance to acids) properties.
• Diamond is referred to as ‘King Gem’ an emblem of
fearlessness.
• The name diamond owes its derivation to the French word
diamant.
 Where do we find diamonds?
Diamond occurs in economic quantities in two environments
• A special variety of rare igneous rocks known as
kimberlites and lamproites, which constitute the primary
host rocks on the surface of the earth
• Conglomerates and gravels which form the secondary host
rocks.
• Picritic dykes, ultramafic lamprophyres, carbonatite, alkali
olivine basalt, peridotites, meta-dunites and meteorites,
ultra high pressure metamorphic rocks – of academic value
• The kimberlites and lamproites were emplaced during
different geological times the peak of emplacement event
being during the Upper Proterozoic and Cretaceous.
• Some of the oldest secondary occurrences include the
Witwatersrand conglomerate (2.7 Ga) in S. Africa and
Tarkwian conglomerate (2 Ga) in Ghana.
 World Diamond Production (million carats)
Country 2000 2001 2002
Angola 6 5.1 6
Australia 26.7 23.8 33.6
Botswana 24.6 25.1 28.4
Brazil 0.9 1 0.7
Canada 2 2.6 3.7
Central Africa Republic 0.5 0.48 0.5
China 1.1 1.18 1.19
Congo 17.5 18.2 18.2
Ivory Coast 0.3 0.3 0.25
Ghana 0.88 0.87 0.96
Guinea 0.55 0.36 0.37
Liberia 0.2 0.17 0.2
Namibia 1.6 1.49 1.35
Russia 23.2 23.2 23
Sierra Leone 0.6 0.6 0.6
South Africa 10.78 11.77 10.88
Tanzania 0.09 0.03 0.02
Venezuela 0.1 0.12 0.05
Zimbabwe 0.02 0.05 —
Others 0.40 0.27 0.09
Totals 118 117 130
India 0.1
 INDIAN DIAMOND SCENARIO
 Emerged as the fastest growing jewellery exporter in the world

 Average growth of nearly 40% each year over the last decade
 Grown from $ 28 million in 1960s to $ 9.1 billion in 2002-03
 Diamond accounts for 80% of the total exports with gold
jewellery contributing 16%
 Established as the world’s largest manufacturing centre

of cut & polished stones

60% in terms of value
85% in terms of caratage
92% in terms of pieces
11 out of 12 stones
 In the last 20 years Indian trade increased from 25% to 65%
 Why Alluvial Diamonds

• The finest of diamonds are found in the Alluvial

deposits
• Diamonds recovered larger in size than those
recovered from the primary sources
• Alluvial diamond prospects, are ideally suited for
local artisan exploitation because of the low capital
investment required for collection and processing
of the gravel.
• Alluvial diamonds may lead to the discovery of
Primary diamond deposits
Distribution of Alluvial Diamond Deposits
• Historically the alluvial diamond deposits along the
Krishna and Pennar Rivers in Andhra Pradesh predate
the discovery of the primary source rocks (kimberlites
in 1871) by centuries
• Present day economic alluvial deposits:
– Zimbabwe, Angola, Zaire, Central African
Republic, Tanzania, Namibia, Seira Leone in Africa
– Smoke Creek and Bow River alluvial mines in
northern Australia
– Brazil and Venezuela in South America
– Bagain River Panna area, India
AFRICA THE DIAMOND CONTINENT
 AFRICA – THE DIAMOND CONTINENT

Diamond and or kimberlite Distribution of cratons and

or lamproite pipe areas archons with primary and
secondary diamond deposits
 FIRST DIAMOND FINDS IN AFRICA

Eureka - 10.73 ct (21.3 ct)

Diamond from De Kalk
farm, 1866

Area of first Diamond reports

between the Orange and Vaal Rivers

Erasmus Jacobs
Illicit
diamond
mining
operations
in western
Africa
 DIAMOND IN SOUTH AMERICA

Map showing principal Dredging and processing of

Diamond regions in Brazil river gravels in Venezuela
 Angola – Source of secondary diamonds

Lucapa corridor, Angola Potholes field with

containing diamond deposits diamondiferous gravel, Angola
Famous Diamonds from the Krishna Valley
The Hope diamond
THE NIZAMS’ JEWELS
GOLKONDA FORT
 DIAMOND FAME OF THE DECCAN-THE LAND OF FIRST
DIAMONDS IN THE WORLD

“And you just know that diamonds are not found in

any part of the world except in this kingdom
(Motupalli Kingdom) alone. But here they are both
plentiful and good”.
Marco Polo,
Venetian explorer of the 13th century
“These diamonds are the first found in India in a
Kingdom of Morres, named Deccan, from whence
they are brought to other regions”
Uertomannus, Italian Traveller
(~AD 1503)
Ancient diamond mines, trade
routes and European travellers
 DECCAN
(THE LAND OF FIRST DIAMONDS IN THE WORLD)
“And you just know that diamonds are
not found in any part of the world
except in this kingdom (Motupalli
Kingdom) alone. But here they are
both plentiful and good”.
Marco Polo,
Venetian explorer of 13th century
Kolluru

Paritala
“These diamonds are the first found in
Mallavelli
India in a Kingdom of Morres, named
Deccan, from whence they are brought
to other regions”
Uertomannus, Italian Traveller (~ADMatanga
1503)
Jonnagiri
Banganapalle

Wajrakarur
Basavapur

Srikantakam (Vedaparvata)
 Central
and
Eastern India
Panna

Madhyamarastrakam/Tajjamarastrakam
(Kosala country)(Vindhya Pradesh) Somelpur Paundra?

Sabharastrakam/Veena River Mahanadi

(Vidharbha Region)
Wairagarh
IndravanKalinga
Indravankam

Map Showing
Ancient
Diamond Mines
CRITERIA FOR DIAMOND CONCENTRATION

• Channel morphology – alluvial diamonds concentrate in

specific portions of river channels or beach deposits
– Point bars, channel bars
– Change in channel gradient
– Pot holes, crevices, sink holes in limestone terrain
• Bedrock characteristics
- Lithological variations result in bedrock riffles which
cause energy fluctuations along the channel
• Gravel characteristics
– Rich alluvial diamonds are associated with well sorted
(mature) clast supported gravels
SOUTH INDIAN DIAMOND PROVINCE
 Krishna - the Diamond river
from southern India
Kolluru

Raichur
Kurnool
Krishna River, Kolluru – Chandralapadu Area
SATELLITE IMAGERY OF ALLUVIAL DIAMOND
MINING AREAS ALONG KRISHNA RIVER
River Bed Gravel,
Kolluru Area
Excavation for Diamondiferous Gravel, Veladikottapalem Area
K
R
I
S
H
N
A

R
I
V
E
R
 Potholes,
Krishna River Bed
Krishna Gravels
Kolluru – The Home of Historic & Famous Diamonds
 n d
o
i m
a s,
t D ing rea
i e n rk A
n c o ru
A Wollu
K
Ancient Workings, Kolluru Area
 PARITALA MINE
KRISHNA RIVER GRAVELS
 Processed Dumps,
Kolluru Area

Washing Tank,
Mallavaram Area
Processed Dumps
 T3 Gravels,
Ustapalle – Kolluru Area
ANCIENT TOMBS, KOLLURU AREA
MENHEIR – AN ANCIENT TOMB
KOLLURU AREA
 nt
a
Pl
n g
si
ces
r o
l P
ve
a
Gr
 Penner River Gravels

Gravel overlying the Owk Shale,

Jammalamadugu Area

Processed Dumps,
Chennuru Area
Sagileru River Gravels
DIAMONDS FROM ANDHRA PRADESH
 PANNA DIAMOND BELT
The Panna Diamond Belt encompasses an area of 1000 sq km.
And extends from near Majhgawan in the west to Jhanda in
the east over a strike length of about 60 km and width of
about 30 km
Source Rocks:
Primary: Kimberlite (Lamproite) at Majhgawan
Secondary:
A. Conglomerates: Itwa Conglomerate
Jhiri Conglomerate
Gahadra Conglomerate
B. Alluvial
C. Lateritic gravel
DIAMONDIFEROUS GRAVELS, BAGAIN RIVER,
PANNA AREA
 PRESENT DAY ALLUVIAL
DIAMOND WORKINGS,
BAGAIN RIVER, PANNA AREA