A History of Diamond Sources In Africa: Part II

Abstract

Following the his tory of diamond dis coveri es in southern Africa

Alluvial diamond resource potential and production capacity assessment of Guinea

“…As a result, diamond exports increased rapidly from 118,500 carats (kt) in 1959 to over 1 million kt by 1961. That same year, the government nationalized all foreign company assets, including $1.5 million worth of diamonds stored in the SOGUINEX vault in Guinea (Janse, 1996). The combination of the nationalization of assets and the influx of displaced miners from Sierra Leone contributed to the high diamond exports from 1958 through 1962 (table 1).…”

Geology and Nonfuel Mineral Deposits of Africa and the Middle East

“…However, this probably reflects greater intensity of exploration and development of infrastructure as well as more natural rock exposures in this region than exist in other parts of Africa. The world's largest diamond resources may lie on the continental shelf off the coasts of Namibia and Namaqualand (Janse, 1996) where efforts are currently underway to evaluate and mine alluvial diamonds. It is possible that production from these deposits will overtake that of all other sources in southern Africa, except perhaps the largest primary kimberlite deposits such as Jwaneng and Orapa in Botswana (Janse, 1996).…”

“…The world's largest diamond resources may lie on the continental shelf off the coasts of Namibia and Namaqualand (Janse, 1996) where efforts are currently underway to evaluate and mine alluvial diamonds. It is possible that production from these deposits will overtake that of all other sources in southern Africa, except perhaps the largest primary kimberlite deposits such as Jwaneng and Orapa in Botswana (Janse, 1996). The potential reserves of both kimberlite and alluvial diamond deposits in Angola appear also to be large and production from these deposits in the next decade may overtake production from South Africa (Janse, 1996).…”

“…It is possible that production from these deposits will overtake that of all other sources in southern Africa, except perhaps the largest primary kimberlite deposits such as Jwaneng and Orapa in Botswana (Janse, 1996). The potential reserves of both kimberlite and alluvial diamond deposits in Angola appear also to be large and production from these deposits in the next decade may overtake production from South Africa (Janse, 1996). In West Africa, the diamond potential of the central part of the West African craton, which lies buried beneath 109 the sands of the Sahara, is still to be evaluated.…”

Aspectos mineralógicos e econômicos de diamantes das regiões de Chapada dos Guimarães, Poxoréu, Diamantino, Paranatinga e Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso

“…Atualmente, o Brasil é um produtor pequeno, ocupando uma posição modesta entre os produtores mundiais (DNplv 199g), contribuinclo com menos de 1% do montante mundiar. os principais produtores da atuaridade são a Rússia, Austrália, Áf rica do Sul e Zaire, entre outros (Janse 1995 Outra propriedade importante é a alta condutibilidade elétr¡ca cle certos djamanles contendo impurezas de boro, tornando-os excelentes semicondutores (Harris 1gg7), seu emprego na indústria diversificou-se nas últimas décadas a ponto de ser usado como um indicador do desenvolvimento tecnológico dos países.…”