The world of gemstones: Central Africa

African countries, such as Botswana, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are also involved in the diamond trade in Africa. Of the three countries, only Botswana has a significant primary diamond yield, and has three large mines, all three currently operational.

In the north we find the Orapa mine, currently the most profitable kimberlite pipe in the world, producing more than 6000 million carats of diamonds per year.

The Kalahari is located in southern Botswana. Despite its name meaning "place of small stones" the mine supplies about 22% of world production of diamonds by value.

Near the Orapa mine is the Letlhakane mine, where diamond mining began in 1976. Although the volume of production per year is equal to 1 million carats, 20% of diamonds are industrial grade and the remaining 80% are gem quality.

Diamonds in Angola and the Congo are of alluvial origin and the mines are plagued by illegal excavations and political instability.

There are many kimberlite pipes in Angola that diamond experts estimate as being economically profitable but the presence of guerrilla groups has always prevented a true evaluation of these pipes, making any verification of these estimates impossible.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Miba mine produces 5 or 6 million carats per year, but only 6% of diamonds are of gem quality.

Central African Diamonds

The first diamonds were discovered in Central Africa at the beginning of the First World War. The presence of abundant water, the dispersion of deposits and relatively cheap labor have maintained an essentially artisanal diamond production.

The stones that are found have a rather round shape and are white or yellow. They are often tinged with green on the outside, in which case it is simply a uranium ore coating. These diamonds are radioactive, but it is possible to treat them.

Diamond mining is generally seasonal (dry season) and it is estimated that over 30,000 artisans work in the shipyards. This activity provides income to some 300,000 people spread over more than half the territory.

The R.C.A. is one of the few African countries to have achieved food self-sufficiency. It also produces coffee, cotton, tobacco, timber, gold, copper, tin, uranium and oil in significant amounts. We strongly believe in future opportunities in diamond mining in this area.

The territory is vast: the size of France with a population of 3 million inhabitants, the country is full of diamonds. The vast rainforest where pygmies live is still virtually unknown and many diamond veins are yet to be discovered. However, the lack of roads in the jungle and the multitude of tropical viruses make this area particularly difficult working conditions and the risks are enormous.