Southern Africa, the land and its peoples . g 3024 carats(\l lb.), the largest white stone ever found in South Africa. The Union Government holds a six-tenths interest in the Premier Mine. (2) Diamonds occur also as alluvial stones, they are foundin the beds of streams, whither they have been carried 1>\ variousdenuding agencies from the volcanic rock in which they wereoriginally formed. The river-diggings extend from the con-tinence of the Yaal and Orange Rivera as far as EOerksdorp, 350miles to the north-east. The most important are those of Lichten-burg, Harkly West, Bloemhof, Chri
Southern Africa, the land and its peoples . g 3024 carats(\l lb.), the largest white stone ever found in South Africa. The Union Government holds a six-tenths interest in the Premier Mine. (2) Diamonds occur also as alluvial stones, they are foundin the beds of streams, whither they have been carried 1>\ variousdenuding agencies from the volcanic rock in which they wereoriginally formed. The river-diggings extend from the con-tinence of the Yaal and Orange Rivera as far as EOerksdorp, 350miles to the north-east. The most important are those of Lichten-burg, Harkly West, Bloemhof, Christians and Wolmaranstad. Recent discoveries have been made as far eastwards as PaTVS, The proportion of alluvial diamonds to those obtained frommines has increased greatly in recent \ ears. In 19211 only 0ne-tenthof the total diamond output consisted of alluvial stones ; in 1931the ratio was one-third. 122 SOUTH KRN AFRICA This development is largely the result of the discovery ofextensive beds of diamondjrferous gravel at Alexander Hay, a. Photo.] [ Publicity Diamond Mine. few miles to the south of the Orange River mouth. In 1927 theGovernment virtually took control of this area, so that the outputof diamonds could be limited and the price maintained. MIMM, 123 Alluvial riiamondi are iiauaUj of a greater brillianoc than those obtainedfrom mines, and arc worth mneh more per carat. The price ofdiamonda ii determined altogether l»\ their scarcity ;and to maintain this juice it isnecessary to restrict the output in accordance with the demand. It ma\ DCInferred from the following statistics that the market foe diamonds i fluctuating one, and that those engaged in the Industry cannol depend upon a uniform income. Diamond Production in Millions Sterling. 1919. 1929. 1927. 1931. 35 I 12 i TRANSVAAL Lour«nco
Size: 1452px × 1720px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidsouthernafricala00hutc
