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Workers remove diamond-bearing gravel under the watchful eye of an overseer in diamond mines near Panna; an imagined view by chronicler and geologist Valentine Ball. "A manual of the geology of India." Calcutta: 1879-1887.
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Diamonds were discovered in India by the 4th century BCE. In addition to the diamond legends, India yielded many legendary diamonds, including the Koh-i-Noor, the Orlov, the Hope, and the Sancy. Except for a minor supply of diamonds from the Kalamantian deposits of Borneo, dating from the 6th century CE, India was the world's only source until the 1730s. Most of India's deposits were alluvial, but today the Majhgawan pipe, a primary source near Panna, is the country's only producing diamond source.
The five major historical diamond producing regions of India are shown here. These were mostly alluvial deposits in river channels. Only the Majhgawan lamproite pipe, near Panna, is now in operation.
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Indian Production:
Total: 21 million carats
Maximum annual: 50,000 to
100,000 carats in late 1600s
Today: 20,000 carats
Golconda and Panna photos by Jackie Beckett; courtesy Department of Library Services, AMNH
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