© Shutterstock

Origins of diamond mining -

Mining for diamonds most likely started in India centuries ago, in places like Poonah (modern-day Pune).

© Getty Images

Market leader -

In fact, up until the 18th century alluvial mining in India was the only source of diamonds in the world.

© Getty Images

Mining in Brazil -

The discovery in the early 18th century of diamond deposits in Brazil prompted slave owners to put their hapless charges to work mining stream beds for the valuable mineral.

© Getty Images

A shameful trade -

Slave workers were also tasked with washing diamonds, a backbreaking chore watched over by supervisors with whips.

© Getty Images

The salve trade thrives -

Brazilian slave owners did well out of the early South American diamond bonanza. Brazil was the largest market in the Americas for African slaves. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, 10 million slaves were transported there from Africa.

© Getty Images

Forced labor -

Diamonds mined using forced labor earned huge fortunes for unscrupulous landowners. Rough and uncut, the collected mineral was usually transported by mule train through the jungle, escorted by a military guard.

© Getty Images

The location shifts -

The diamond trade in Brazil flourished into the 19th century. But by the mid-1800s, another location halfway round the world was fast becoming the location of choice for mining this prized mineral: Africa.

© Getty Images

The African diamond trade -

The mining of diamonds in Central and South Africa began in the second half of the 19th century. The earliest recorded alluvial diamond was unearthed in late 1866 or early 1867 on De Kalk farm near the Orange River in Northern Cape (South Africa).

© Getty Images

Kimberlite mining -

The discovery of diamonds in South Africa prompted the mining of primary kimberlite diamond deposits on an industrial scale (kimberlite is rock that contains diamonds in its rock matrix). Bultfontein (pictured) was the name of the farm where one of the diamond-bearing kimberlites in the so-called Kimberley cluster was unearthed.

© Getty Images 

The Kimberly diamond mine -

One of the most famous mines of its kind in the world, the Kimberly diamond mine began operations in early 1870. Its founding led to the great rush of 1871 when nearly 10,000 people went out to Africa's newly found diamond fields. 

© Getty Images

The Big Hole -

The Kimberly mine is also known as the Big Hole. It sits on land previously owned by two Dutch settlers, brothers Diederik and Nicolaas de Beer.

© Getty Images

Cecil Rhodes -

After diamonds were discovered at the Big Hole in 1871, the de Beer brothers were pressured into selling their land to the British government. Cecil Rhodes was subsequently placed in charge of the mining operation. In 1888, he founded the De Beers Diamond Consortium.

© Getty Images

De Beers Consolidated Mines -

In 1888, Cecil Rhodes and a business associate, Charles Rudd, founded De Beers Consolidated Mines, a move that saw him take charge of all the mines around Kimberley. Rhodes, a ruthless imperialist, would soon garner much criticism for his political beliefs and racist views.

© Getty Images

A dangerous occupation -

Within five years after the initial discovery of alluvial diamonds in South Africa, huge quantities were being recovered from "hard rock" kimberlite sources. But extracting this mineral wealth came at a price. The work was difficult and dangerous, with the lives of locals toiling deep underground being lost at an alarming rate.

© Getty Images

The Cullinan diamond -

In 1907, the Cullinan diamond was discovered. Weighing a whopping 3,106 carats (621.20 g), this remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.

© Getty Images

Cullinans I and II -

Cullinan produced stones of various cuts and sizes, the largest of which is named Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa. Cullinan II is known as the Second Star of Africa. Both are part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Pictured is Queen Mary wearing Cullinans I and II as a brooch on her chest. She's also wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

© Public Domain

Koh-i-noor diamond -

The Koh-i-noor is one of the largest and most controversial cut diamonds in the world, weighing 105.6 carats (21.12 g). Interestingly, it is not South African in origin. Rather, it was found in India. The glittering stone is on display at the Tower of London, set in the crown of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. For decades, India demanded the return of the diamond, claiming it was stolen. However, in 2018 the Archaeological Survey of India confirmed that the stone was legitimately surrendered to the British in 1846.

© Getty Images

The Venetia diamond mine -

Approximately 49% of diamonds originate from Central and Southern Africa. South Africa is the most significant diamond-producing country on the African continent. The country's Venetia diamond mine (pictured) is one of the world's largest producers by volume.

© Getty Images

Blood diamonds -

Elsewhere on the continent, diamonds are associated with conflict. So-called blood diamonds are those mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, terrorism, or a warlord's nefarious activity.

© Getty Images

Countries of conflict -

Countries accused by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme of mining blood diamonds include Liberia (pictured), Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

© Getty Images

Angolan Civil War -

Angola is also listed. At the height of the Angolan Civil War in the 1980s, reports estimate that as much as 21% of the country's total diamond production was being sold for illegal and unethical purposes, and 19% was specifically conflict in nature. The 27-year war killed half a million people and displaced another four million before a cease-fire was declared in April 2002.

© Getty Images

Australian diamond industry -

Australia has been a diamond producer since the 19th century. According to the Australian Museum, the largest diamond found so far in Australia was mined at the Merlin mine, Northern Territory, in 2003, and weighed 104.73 carats (20,946 g). The now decommissioned Argyle mine in Western Australia was at times the largest diamond producer in the world by volume (14 million carats in 2018). It ceased operations in 2020.

© Getty Images

Canadian diamonds -

Canada is a relatively new member of the world's diamond producing countries. The Ekati diamond mine, Canada's first, has been in operation since 2010. The Diavik diamond mine, pictured here from the air, opened in January 2003 and is one of the largest open pit diamond mines in the world, according to production.

© Getty Images

A first for South America -

Brazil still mines diamonds, mostly from alluvial sources. However, in 2017 the Brauna diamond mine opened in Nordestina in the state of Bahia to become the first mine of its kind in South America developed from a kimberlite deposit, the primary source rock of diamond.

© Getty Images

Diamond mining in Russia -

Mir is an open pit diamond mine located in Mirny, Sakha Republic, in the remote Siberian region of eastern Russia. Operated by Alrosa, Russia's leading diamond mining and distribution company, Mir is one of 11 primary and 16 alluvial deposits found across the country. According to Globaldata, Russia was the world's largest producer of diamonds in 2022, accounting for 31% of global production.

© Getty Images

Hope diamond -

Besides the aforementioned Cullinan and Koh-i-noor diamonds, other world-famous rock includes the 45. 52-carat (9.104 g) Hope diamond.

© Getty Images

Sancy diamond -

The Sancy diamond was worn by Charles I (the Bold) in 1470. Past owners also include King Manuel I of Portugal. It was bought in 1570 by Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy. The 55.00-carat (1,00 g) gem is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

© Getty Images

Tiffany diamond -

The glittering 128.51-carat (25.07 g) Tiffany diamond with its fancy brownish-orange finish was found in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1878. It resurfaced as recently as 2019 when Lady Gaga wore it to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Los Angeles.

© Getty Images

Millennium Star diamond -

Supermodel Iman wore the De Beers Millennium Star necklace, with the world's largest flawless pear-shaped diamond, weighing 203 carats (4.6 g), to the Cannes Film Festival in 2002. Incidentally, the Millennium Star was the target of "the world's greatest robbery attempt" at the London Millennium Dome in November 2000.

© Getty Images

Florentine diamond -

Sadly, what you see here is a replica of the Florentine diamond. This gorgeous lemon-yellow gem has not been seen since 1911, its whereabouts a complete mystery. The original consisted of 137.27 carats (27.454 g) and belonged first to the Medici family and later the Hapsburg court.

Sources: (Gems & Gemology) (Jeweller Magazine) (Kimberley Process) (Globaldata) (CNN) 

See also: Black diamonds—Earth's toughest mystic jewel from outer space

© Getty Images