Scientists confirmed that there was rare diamond ore in drought-prone Anantapur district. Foreign scientists were surprised to find rare kimberlites (diamond ore) on the top layers of earth in various parts of the district due to chemical reactions in the earth.

The 10th International Kimberlite conference will be organised in Bengaluru from February 6 to 11. Twenty-one scientists from America, South Africa, Britain, France, Japan and other countries, three scientists from India and 10 geologists will take part in the conference.

As part of the meet, the scientists inspected kimberlites in various parts of Anantapur district. It was revealed in the Geological Survey of India (GSI) survey that there are rare diamond ores in several areas of the district.

Scientists conducted surveys on valuable kimberlites at Pillalapalli and Nagireddypalli near Penu-gonda mandal, Lattavaram in Uravakonda mandal and Devuni Manyam near Pamidi Road in Vajra-karur cluster and collected samples.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Cooper, a South African scientist, said that kimberlites came up due to heat in the earth and added that it was visible in Anantapur district. He said that there was scope to find rare kimberlites in around 50 to 100 kilometres area.

Mr Cooper said that there were kimberlites in a width of 180 metres and length of 1,080 metres in the Vajrakarur Cluster.

After inspecting the kimberlite samples and soil samples, the quality of diamonds would be checked, he added. Scientists inspected the kimberlites put on display at the Diamond Research Centre.