_The Meteor Crater of Canyon Diablo, Arizona; its History, Origin, and Associated Meteoric Irons._ By George P. Merrill. 1908.
In the present volume I have tried to give some idea of the underground wonders of the Kimberley mines. I have pictured the strenuous toil of the men who bring to the surface the buried treasures, and I have given some idea of the skill and ingenuity with which their labours are controlled. I have done my best to explain the fiery origin of the Diamond, and to describe the glowing, molten, subterranean furnaces where they first begin mysteriously to take shape. I have shown that a diamond is the outcome of a series of Titanic earth convulsions, and that these precious gems undergo cycles of fiery, strange, and potent vicissitudes before they can blaze on a ring or a tiara.
I am glad to have paid these two visits to South Africa. I always recall with interest the dusky smiling natives at work and at play. I am glad to have seen that Arabian Nights vision, the strong-room of the De Beers Company. Above all, I have vividly graven on my heart the friendly welcome, and the innumerable acts of kindness shown us by our able, energetic, and enterprising Colonial fellow-countrymen.
III. KIMBERLEY MINES AT THE PRESENT DAY 34
VIII. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE DIAMOND 89
X. THE NATURAL FORMATION OF THE DIAMOND 127
The Cullinan Diamond, from a photograph by the Author (see pp. 76-79) _Frontispiece_
2. Plan of the Kimberley Diamond Mines 10
5. Wesselton Diamond Mine. Open Workings 34
7. De Beers Mine. Underground Workings 40
8. De Beers Washing and Concentrating Machinery 48
9. Sorting Concentrates for Diamonds. De Beers 54
10. De Beers Diamond Office. 25,000 carats 72
11. De Beers Diamond Office. The Valuators’ Table 72
14. Crystalline forms of native Diamonds 86
15. Triangular Markings on natural face of a Diamond Crystal 88
16. Triangular Markings artificially produced on a Diamond Crystal 88
18. Diamonds in Röntgen Rays. A. Black Diamond in gold frame. B. Pink Delhi Diamond. C. Paste Imitation of B. 98
19. Curve of Vapour Pressure of Carbon _page_ 113
21. Artificial Diamond made by the Author from molten iron 120
23. Diamonds from Canyon Diablo Meteorite 138