CARATS From the Kimberley Mine from 1·25 to 1·5 ” De Beers Mine ” 1·20 ” 1·3 ” Dutoitspan Mine ” 0·17 ” 0·5 ” Bultfontein Mine ” 0·5 ” 0·33 VARIETIES OF DIAMONDS FANCY STONES Diamonds occur in all shades, from deep yellow to pure white and jet black, from deep brown to light cinnamon, also green, blue, pink, yellow, orange, and opaque. Both in Kimberley and De Beers the blue ground on the west side is poorer in diamonds than the blue ground in other parts of the mines. The diamonds from the west side also differ somewhat from those in other parts of the same mine. The diamonds from each mine have a distinctive character, and so uniform are the characteristics that an experienced buyer can tell at once the locality of any particular parcel of stones. An isolated stone may, of course, be found occasionally in any one mine which is characteristic of some other source of production, but this is the exception to the general rule. There is a great similarity between the produce of the De Beers and Kimberley mines. A day’s wash from either of these mines could be distinguished from each other, but not so easily the majority of the individual stones. The Kimberley Mine produces a small percentage of white crystals, octahedral in shape, is noted for its large macles, and, in common with the De Beers Mine, it also yields a large percentage of coloured and large yellow diamonds. The De Beers Mine produces a comparatively small percentage of really white diamonds, but is noted for its fine silvery capes. The Dutoitspan Mine is noted for its fine white cleavages, silver capes, large yellows, and an exceptional proportion of large stones generally. It also produces a small proportion of fine white, octahedral-shaped crystals and a comparatively small proportion of diamonds below 0·2 of a carat in size. The Bultfontein Mine produces a very large percentage of white diamonds, mostly octahedral in shape and generally small in size. It produces very few coloured stones, but a larger percentage of flawed and spotted stones than any other mine. Even the apparently pure stones from this mine frequently develop flaws in cutting, which in the rough were imperceptible to the naked eye. The Wesselton Mine diamonds are noted for an abnormally large percentage of octahedral stones, a large proportion of which are free from flaws. White and brown stones predominate in this mine; there is almost an entire absence of the ordinary yellow, but very fine golden-coloured fancy stones are unearthed occasionally, invariably in the form of cleavage, and hardly ever exceeding 2 carats each in weight. For “golden fancies” this mine is unrivalled. Wesselton diamonds are easily distinguished from the produce of every other mine by a decided gloss common to them.