PRODUCTION

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South Africa has been a major contributor to the world diamond production since 1869 when the first diamond rush occurred on the Vaal River alluvial deposits. Indeed, between 1872 and 1908 (when Namibian diamond production began), the country produced more than 97% world's diamonds.This domination continued, with South Africa annually producing more than half the world's supply, until the early 1930s, when a number of factors combined to dramatically reduce the country's share of production. The total quantity of diamond mined in world up to 1995 is estimated at approximately 2,67 billion ct or about 534 ct.Of this total ,South Africa has contributed 493 million ct, or 18,4%,of all natural diamonds .Today,South Africa ranks fifth in the world diamond production by volume.By value only Botswana and Russia exceed South Africa's contribution.

During 1995,diamond production in South Africa was 9,69 million ct.More than 93% of this production came from the De Beers Mines at Venetia ,Finsch ,Premier ,Namaqualand, Kimberly and Koffiefontein.