MariskaFeari3794 at 08:47, 4 May 2026

2026-05-04T08:47:56Z

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{{Short description|Commerce involving Indian diamonds}}
[[File:Fabled diamond mines.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Diamond mine in the Golconda region 1725 CE from the collection of [[Pieter van der Aa]]—a Dutch publisher known for preparing maps and atlases.]]
The period of peak production of the [[Golconda diamonds]] (in the present-day states [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]], India) was under the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]] (16th century – 17th century CE), and the region was also known as the "Golconda Sultanate". The [[Asaf Jahi dynasty]] (18th century – 19th century CE) was later dominant, and it was also known as the "Nizam of Hyderabad".<ref name="Pratt">{{cite book|title=Universal Gazetteer of the World: A Dictionary, Geographical, Historical and Statistical, of the Various Kingdoms, States, Provinces, Cities, Towns, Forts, Harbors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A3MpDdKXoeoC|year=1852|page=357|publisher=Z. & B. F. Pratt|access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="Gupta">{{cite book|title=Deccan Heritage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8830KZLvkYsC&q=golconda+diamonds,|last=Gupta|first=Harsh K|year=2000|pages=139–146|publisher=[[Indian National Science Academy]] and [[University press]]|isbn=9788173712852|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="Nair">{{cite magazine|title=The sparkling centuries|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2020/12/17/the-sparkling-centuries.html|last=Nair|first=Mandira|magazine=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date=20 December 2020|accessdate=17 August 2022}}</ref> During these times, the diamond mines were leased out to merchants under the supervision of regional governors. The periods of the leases were recorded in days. Local merchants [[Shantidas Jhaveri]] and [[Shantidas Jhaveri#Legacy|Khushalchand]] were legendary diamond traders of the region.<ref name="Mehta">{{cite book|title=Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective: With Special Reference to Shroffs of Gujarat, 17th to 19th Centuries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9lz3gNDMbWEC&pg=PA96|last=Mehta|first=Makrand |year=1991|pages=96–102|publisher=Academic Foundation|isbn=9788171880171|access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> Large diamonds (over 1 [[Carat (mass)|carat]]) obtained from the mines were reserved for the rulers under terms of the leases.<ref name="Nair" />

Actual mining of the Golconda diamonds occurred in [[alluvial soil]] settings, alongside river beds, and diamonds were found within a few feet of the surface of the land.<ref name="Coulson">{{cite book|title=The History of Mining: The events, technology and people involved in the industry that forged the modern world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BAfmAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA457|last=Accum|first=Michael Coulson|year=2012|pages=75–77|publisher=Harriman House Limited|isbn=978-0-85719-266-0|access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> After the customary survey of geological formations between the river and the mountains, [[Alluvial diamond mining|mining sites]] were selected and a clay cistern would be prepared on the spot for use in digging.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite book|title=A Nutshell of Knowledge Concerning the Mine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3C0YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA36|last=Taylor|first=Isaac|year=1830|pages=34–40|publisher=[[John Harris (publisher)|John Harris]]|accessdate=18 August 2022}}</ref> The depth of the mines was usually up to four [[fathoms]] (7.3 meters). In some situations, if [[boulder]]s appeared during digging, the boulders were covered with coal and burned out to make them very hot. Then water was sprayed on the boulders to produce cracks through [[thermal shock]]. The remnants of the boulders were then carved out with tools. This removal procedure was used since [[gunpowder]] was not yet a tool for mining in the region at the time.<ref name="Mehta" /><ref name="Accum">{{cite book|title=System of Theoretical and Practical Chemistry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Fw3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA208|last=Accum|first=Friedrich Christian |year=1808|volume=1|pages=208–210|publisher=Kimber and Conrad|access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> When mining reached [[Groundwater|ground water]], digging was halted. At that point in the mining process, the miners washed away the earthy particles from the collected soil. Stony substances were then collected for assortment and examination to obtain diamonds.<ref name="Taylor" /> The earthy coverings of [[limescale]] [[ore]] were then removed, to yield the raw diamonds.<ref name="Accum" /> The raw diamonds from the regional mines were typically then transported to the Golconda (now the western part of [[Hyderabad]]<ref name="TelGov">{{cite web|title=Golconda Fort|url=https://hyderabad.telangana.gov.in/tourist-place/golconda-fort/|work=[[Government of Telangana]]|date=6 August 2022|access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>) for skilled lapidary, enhancement and further evaluation and sale.<ref name="Pratt" /><ref name="Gupta" /><ref name="Nair" />

The art of [[macle]], which is a form of rough diamond used to produce jewelry, was first developed in the Golconda region.<ref>{{cite news|title=Unraveling the Mystery of Macle Jewelry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/04/style/unraveling-the-mystery-of-macle-jewelry.html|first=Kathleen|last=Beckett|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 July 2022|accessdate=4 July 2022}}</ref> Of the 38 diamond mines in India at the time, 23 were located in the Golconda Sultanate, of which the [[Kollur Mine]] was prominent where 60,000 workers were employed at once, making Golconda the "Diamond Capital" of the past.<ref name="Gupta" /><ref name="Streeter">{{cite book|title=Precious Stones and Gems, Their History and Distinguishing Characteristics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pUIDAAAAQAAJ|last=Streeter|first=Edwin William|year=1882|pages=108–110 and 126–131|publisher=[[George Bell & Sons]]|access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

Most of these mines were fully active until 1830 CE but were gradually abandoned as they became either submerged by the backwaters or depleted due to excessive mining. Thus, mining gradually declined and finally officially closed.<ref name="DC1">{{cite news|title=India's iconic lost diamonds|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/280416/india-s-iconic-lost-diamonds.html|last=Reddy|first=U.Sudhakar|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|date=28 April 2016|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="DC2">{{cite news|title=Andhra Pradesh diamond belt is now Submerged|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/190916/andhra-pradesh-diamond-belt-is-now-submerged.html|last=Reddy|first=U.Sudhakar|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|date=19 September 2016|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref>

In the year 2015, research was conducted by the Centre of Exploration Geophysics ([[Osmania University]]) and by the [[Geological Survey of India]]. The research identified three zones that contain 21 new potential diamond mining sites near the delta of the Krishna and [[Bhima River|Bhima]] rivers, specifically in the riverbeds of the Krishna, [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] and [[Penna River|Penna]]. According to the research, the sites contain [[volcanic pipe]]s which probably bear [[Kimberlite]] and possibly diamonds.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news|title=Telangana: Confluence of Musi-Krishna may throw up diamonds, says study|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/telangana-confluence-of-musi-krishna-may-throw-up-diamonds-says-study/articleshow/88500184.cms#_ga=2.197734575.1297809681.1661177049-1911696365.1659104255|last=Akber|first=Syed|newspaper=The Times of India|date=26 December 2021|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="TOI2">{{cite news|title=Telangana sitting on a bed of diamonds|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/telangana-sitting-on-a-bed-of-diamonds/articleshow/48418233.cms|last=Akber|first=Syed|newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 August 2015|access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

==Mining and trading==

[[Mir Jumla II]] also known as Mir Jumla and Mohammad Saad, came to Golconda Sultanete from [[Persia]] and initially, he traded into daily wares later when he realize the worth of Golconda Diamonds, he expanded trading and become the most prominent merchant of [[Golconda diamonds]], he established a network of traders from [[Persia]], [[Arab]], [[Netherlands|Dutch]], [[France|French]], [[Portugal|Portuguese]], [[Burma]], [[China]], [[Malay Archipelago]] and [[Bengal]].<ref name="TFT1">{{cite news|title=Persian adventurer in India|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2019/04/12/persian-adventurer-in-india/|last=Mahmood|first=Parvez|newspaper=The Friday times|date=12 April 2019|access-date=23 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Journal1">{{cite journal|title=Mir Jumla's invasion of Assam (1662–63), war experience of a Dutch sailor Heiden and Translator Glanius|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0376983619856149|last=Konwar|first=Paranan|journal=Indian Historical Review |publisher= Department of Economics, Sonari College, Assam, India.|year=2019|volume=46 |pages=41–54 |doi=10.1177/0376983619856149 |s2cid=200082670 |access-date=23 September 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="TFT2">{{cite news|title=Persian adventurer in India|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2019/04/19/persian-adventurer-in-india-ii/|last=Mahmood|first=Parvez|newspaper=The Friday times|date=19 April 2019|access-date=23 September 2022}}</ref> [[Jean-Baptiste Tavernier]] advised Mir Jumla that there is little market of diamonds in europe at that time, thus prompting Mir Jumla to send his diamond miners back for agricultural works.<ref name="Diamonds An Early History of the King of Gems; Jack Ogden">{{cite book |author1=Jack Ogden |title=Diamonds An Early History of the King of Gems |date=8 May 2018 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6NUDwAAQBAJ |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=9780300235517 |page=222 |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=En |format=ebook |quote=Thevenot, 1687, 103}}</ref>

In the 1600s AD when mines were leased, an agreement—(called ''Qaul'') would be signed under the supervision of regional governors—miners were charged four ''Pagodas'' per day for 100 workers, while they will pay monthly rent based on the strength of the workers, provisions, and tobacco were provided with 50 percent extra excise duty while large and exclusive carat of diamonds would only be sold to the ruler with concessions, while [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] community—(a merchant and trading community in India) used to have the majority of holdings and during the early 1600 AD some Dutch miners of [[Dutch East India Company]] were granted mining rights. In 1621–22 AD when Golconda rulers learned about the demand and selling price for Golconda diamonds in Europe, the rulers seized all the mines and temporarily halt the mining process to increase the demand, due to which the price rises up to double. In 1627, seeing the high prices the Dutch traders stop purchasing, and utilizing this opportunity the British ([[East India Company]]) brought investment and purchased the diamonds.<ref name="Crider">{{cite journal|title=Diamond mining and trade in south India in the 17th Century|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147002|last=Alam|first=Ishrat|year=1998|pages=314–315|volume=59|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]|jstor=44147002|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="coin">{{cite book|title=Urban Wage Earners in Seventeenth Century India: Artisans, Laborers, Service Providers and Entertainers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wm4ZEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA330|last=Manzar|first=Nishat|year=2021|pages=348 and 400|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=9781000395372|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147002 Diamond mining and trade in South India in 17th Century, Ishrat Alam, 1998]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Gemstone}}

[[Category:Golconda diamonds|*]]

Golconda diamonds mining and trading - Revision history

MariskaFeari3794 at 08:47, 4 May 2026