History of Diamonds

Question 1

What is the mining type in India?

Answer 1

Secondary source known as alluvial

Question 2

Where and where was the first diamond found?

Answer 2

India 600-800 BC

Question 3

What, When and Who published a famous book about India Diamonds?

Answer 3

Travels in India in 1676 by Jean Baptiste

Question 4

Rank the mining countries according to value based on 2002 data

Answer 4

1. Botswana 2. Russia 3. South Africa 4. Angola 5. Namibia 6. Canada 7. Congo 8. Australia

Question 5

Rank the mining countries according to production volume

Answer 5

1. Australia 2. Botswana 3. Russia 4. Congo 5. South Africa 6. Angola 7. Canada 8. Namibia

Question 6

What is the timeline of the major mines

Answer 6

India 800 BC Brazil 1725 South Africa 1867 Namibia 1908 Botswana 1967 Russia 1954 Australia 1971 Canada 1990

Question 7

What was the most important ancient locality for diamonds?

Answer 7

India

Question 8

Name the most important discovery of diamonds in the 19th century

Answer 8

South Africa

Question 9

Name the mines in South Africa

Answer 9

Koffiefontein 1870 Kimberley (Big Hole) 1871 De Beers 1871 Dutoitspan 1871 Bulfonstein 1871 Wesselton 1891 Premier (Cullinan) 1903 Namaqualand 1908 Finsch 1967 Venetia 1992 The Oaks 1998

Question 10

Who is Friedrich Moh?

Answer 10

1822 German mineralogist produced a practical scheme for mineral hardness assessment.

Question 11

What is Moh’s scale?

Answer 11

It gives relative hardness and not absolute hardness. Difference between diamond and corundum is bigger than the difference between corondum and talc.