Du Toit I
Beautiful but a little "Off-Colour"--South African Diamonds--Their Origin and Character--Enormous Increase of--Estimated Value of "Claims" in the Mining Districts--Peculiar Delicacies of the Straw Tint--Stones that Rival those of Brazil and India--"Bort."
THE latest great "find" in South Africa, and exceeded in size only by one other stone from that region, was discovered in 1878 on a "claim" at Du Toit's Pan, where a greater proportion of large diamonds has been produced than in any other diamantiferous district in the world. It is of a light "off-colour," and free from flaws, but not of the finest water, though by skilful treatment it may prove a magnificent stone. Since its discovery, the value of the claims, especially in the Kimberley district, has risen enormously. Claims originally disposed of at the rate of pound 50 per twenty square feet are now realising many thousand pounds. Precious Stones and Gems contains some exclusive and interesting information upon South African diamonds. Without trespassing unduly upon the chapter which deals with the subject from various points of view, there are a few facts that may very properly be repeated in this place. It is well ascertained that these diamonds were originally developed in an igneous matrix belonging probably to that large series of eruptive rocks which have burst further through the Karoo strata at so many points in South Africa. In the dry diggings the stones are possibly found almost in their original positions. Those which reward the digger in the river beds have probably been washed down by running water, and there are superficial deposits here and there in which ice has been the means of transportation. Such, at least are the various hypotheses which have been put forward in explanation of the somewhat singular distribution of the diamonds at the Cape.
Hardly a dozen years have past since these new fields were discovered. During that time the yield of fine stones has been enormous. The first notable one was the "Dudley," the next the "Stewart." The latter gem is the only one which takes precedence in size of the Du Toit I. Although many of the Cape diamonds are "straw coloured," a very fair proportion are of the first water, bearing comparison with some of the finest gems of Brazil and the Indies. Even the yellowish ones are of a peculiar delicacy of tint which is very attractive in a well cut stone. It has been estimated that 20 per cent. of the Cape stones are of the finest quality, 15 of the second, and 20 of the third, the remainder being what is technically called "bort." It is as well to add that all diamonds which are not sufficiently pure for cutting are classed under the term "bort." They are crushed into powder, which is used for grinding diamonds, and also in the engraving of gems of exceptional hardness. Since the discovery of the Du Toit I., two quarter claims in the vicinity of the spot where it was dug out have been sold for pound 20,000. The competition for mining rights continues to be severe in other districts, and the latest rewards of enterprising investments have justified the faith of both capitalist and labourer.