Hyderabad: Despite their immense potential for diamonds due to strong Kimberlite reserves, AP and TS districts have only seen extensive reconnaissance — but no production. Kimberlite is an igneous rock — the result of ancient volcanic activity — and is a known ‘diamond carrier’.
In fact, Anantapur’s Wajrakarur and Narayanpet in Mahabubnagar are considered the most potential areas. According to the AP Mines department the diamond mineral is now found in AP’s Anantapur, Kurnool and Krishna districts. Around 18.23 lakh carats out of a total of 319.22 lakh carats — which amounts to 5.7 per cent of total Indian reserves is present only in AP, in these three districts. But there is zero production of diamonds in AP or TS.
A reading of official documents of the AP Government on Mines reveals, “For diamonds, the mineral concession will be awarded either through auction or through the value addition route or reservation to State and Central Public Sector Units.
Secretary to Mines of AP government, Mr Girija Shankar, says, “There is not much happening on the diamond front in AP. The Mahabubnagar area, that falls in Telangana State, appears to have good potential.”
Giants such as De Beers India and Rio Tinto India, based on geological data provided by the GSI, were granted reconnaissance permits for diamond exploration with AP and Telangana as focal points. Officials say the Southern Indian Diamond province (SIDP), perhaps the largest diamond province in the country, is confined to the Dharwar Craton — an ancient geological feature.
The Craton includes the Cuddapah Basin, the Pakhal Basin and the Kurnool basins. The Wajrakarur kimberlite field in Anantapur district, part of the Dharwar Craton, is considered the largest primary field recorded so far in the country. Until now, a total of 29 kimberlite bodies have been discovered across the Anantapur district. Several private companies are also currently working in the Krishna alluvial areas.
Mr. Charles E. E. Devenish, chairman of the Deccan Gold Mines says, “AP and TS have huge potential of diamonds. But due to the Mining Act and several policies, exploration could not be carried out. The Krishna river area is still one of the best. The world’s best diamonds have come from the Kimberlite reserves there.”
