A number of the articles were published in the 1800s and early 1900s – when many classical gem deposits of historical importance were discovered and gemmology and mineralogy became sciences. ![]() This reading list was compiled to give you an opportunity to learn more about the history of the diamond fields of South Africa. These events started a rush of thousands of people (of all backgrounds and from a number of countries) to lay claim to sections of land to explore for diamonds over a large area of the Cape Colony, and within two decades, many rich deposits were found that would later become the famous diamond mines of South Africa. In 1870 diamonds were being found in some abundance on the Bultfontein farm (20 miles south-east of the river diggings) in what came to be called the “dry diggings” (later recognised as diamonds occurring in the upper weathered and decomposed sections of a volcanic pipe). Much of the scientific effort during this time was directed toward finding the host rock in which the diamonds originally formed. Those involved in the search recognised that the presence of garnets was often a very good indicator of the proximity of alluvial diamonds. Over the following months, additional diamonds continued to be found, and by 1869 these river diggings had yielded hundreds of diamonds (including the discovery of the 83.5 carat diamond known as the “Star of the South” at Sandfontein). As news of the initial diamond discovery spread, small parties of prospectors rushed into the region to search for similar gems. This surprise discovery prompted Boer farmers along the rivers to look more carefully for “blink klippe” (bright stones). They debated how and why diamonds occurred in South Africa. Most people at that time had never seen a diamond and only knew of them from books. This news was viewed with some scepticism, however. It was purchased for £500 by Sir Phillip Wodehouse, the governor of the Cape Colony, who was able to confirm its identity. Atherstone, a physician and amateur geologist residing at Grahamstown who, based on its physical properties, pronounced it a diamond weighing 21.25 carats. The civil commissioner in Colesberg, Lorenzo Boyes, examined the pebble and discovered that it could scratch glass. The farmer thought it might have some value and showed it to several individuals in Hopetown and nearby Colesberg, but found little interest. The woman laughed at this idea and gave the pebble to him. His mother noticed it and showed it to a neighbouring farmer, Schalk van Niekerk, who was so intrigued by its appearance that he offered to buy it. ![]() Jacob’s son Erasmus collected pretty stones, including a shiny pebble, from along the south bank of the Orange River, which he and other children used in games. ![]() Brazil had been the principal source of diamonds for at least 150 years. No one thought that the region might contain diamonds, or had thought to search for any precious stones. This region of South Africa, near the junction of the Orange and Vaal rivers, was one of several destinations for thousands of European settlers (mainly Dutch and English) who had travelled from the coast towards the interior of the country to farm and raise livestock. The discovery of diamonds in South Africa occurred in early 1867 on the land of a poor Boer farmer, Daniel Jacobs, near the small isolated settlement of Hopetown on the Orange River in the Cape of Good Hope Colony. The classical Roman scholar Pliny wrote: “ Maximum in rebus humanis, non solum inter gemmas, pretium habet adamas” (Among all human things, not only among gems, the diamond is the most precious). Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewellery CertificateĪpplied Jewelry Professional ™ Online DiplomaĪ view of the Kimberley Diamond Mine in South Africa, taken from a booklet entitled, “A Short Sketch of the African Diamond Mines”, published in 1881 by Alfred H.
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