Subject: [Geology] Diamond Exploration
Article:

Diamonds are found mainly between the Suriname and Saramacca rivers North West of Afobakka. The 'Geological Mining Service' (GMD) began its diamond exploration since 1948. The diamonds were found in coarse pebbles - bearing sandstone layers of a precambrian Rosebel formation. Since then some 'microscopic' diamonds have been found to the north near Kraka and Zanderij. Recently diamonds have been found in the southern part of Suriname. Around 1880, some 60 diamonds were found in the area around Berg en Dal. In 1947 one more diamond was found which prompted further exploration in 1971. The author gives in detail an account how diamond prospecting is conducted. He finds it regrettable that there was no uniform opening size of sieves used in diamond prospecting studies. Diamonds were obtained from the Rosebel formation area. Most diamonds found are concentrated in an area called 10A and 10 on a geological map. They are located on a Rosebel dike and near the road Brownsweg-Berg en Dal. This area produced the highest grade and largest stone sizes, while to the east of this area no diamonds were found. The largest stones were 3 ct and some were found in a one square KM area. The author is of the opinion that diamonds outside area 10 and 10A are so low grade diamonds that they are not economically exploitable. He believes more intensive evaluation is needed in conjunction with any gold exploration in the same area 10 and 10A. ------


Met dank aan Albert Buys








Met dank aan Albert Buys