Excavation of Diamond

• 19 Nov 2024

Why in News?

Recently, a farmer and his associates have discovered a valuable diamond, weighing 7.44 carats, in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• About Diamond:
  • Diamond, an allotrope of carbon, is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth.
  • Formed in the Earth’s mantle and brought to the surface through volcanic activity, it is found in volcanic landforms like dykes and sills.
  • Uses:
    • In jewelry, metal polishing, gem cutting, and industrial applications such as cutting edges for drills.
  • Diamond Rich Locations in India:
    • The Panna belt (Madhya Pradesh), Wajrakarur Kimberlite field, and the Krishna River basin (Andhra Pradesh).
    • The cutting and polishing industry is centered in Surat, Navsari, Ahmedabad, and Palampur.
  • Leading Producers:
    • Russia, Botswana, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• Panna’s Diamond Industry:
  • Panna has been a diamond mining center for centuries.
  • The district’s diamond deposits have dwindled due to over-mining, making large discoveries rare.
  • Mining serves as an alternative income source for the largely tribal population, with modest daily earnings of Rs 250-300.

Diamond Industry in India

• India is the world's largest cutting and polishing center for diamonds, accounting for over 90% of polished diamond manufacturing globally.
  • According to Indian Minerals Yearbook 2019, diamond fields of India are grouped into four regions:
    • Central Indian tract of Madhya Pradesh, comprising Panna belt.
    • South Indian tract of Andhra Pradesh, comprising parts of Anantapur, Kadapa, Guntur, Krishna, Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts.
    • Behradin-Kodavali area in Raipur district and Tokapal, Dugapal, etc. areas in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
    • Eastern Indian tract mostly of Odisha, lying between Mahanadi and Godavari valleys.