Abstract
The State of Minas Gerais (MG) was the main diamond producer worldwide for almost 150 years. Today, Brazil contributes about 1.5% to the world diamond production, with 220,000 carats (ct) coming from MG; the two principal source areas are located in the Diamantina region of Espinhaco province and in western MG. Although many theories have been advanced to explain the primary source of diamonds in MG, all commercial production is from secondary deposits. This paper reviews the geology of these deposits and emphasizes the importance of the redistribution of diamonds in Cretaceous and younger sediments. The Espinhaco diamond province, with distinct diamond districts and fields, varies in average grade from 0.008 to over 0.2 ct/m3; however, immense reserves, such as the Jequitinhonha River gravels, locally can reach 400,000,000 m3 or more. However, the largest stones weigh only several tens of carats, unlike in Western MG (which supplied practically all of Brazil's large stones), where many weigh over 100 ct....
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