Page:A treatise on diamonds and precious stones including their history Natural and commercial.djvu/70

 SECT. V.

Natural History, Localities, &c.

places where Diamonds have been found in modern times are—the central and southern parts of India, the peninsula of Malacca, the Island of Borneo,and some mountainous districts in the kingdom of Brazil, more particularly Serro do Frio. In the latter place, which is peculiarly celebrated, they are found in rivers or rivulets, in the banks adjoining water courses, and in ravines. The Diamond is invariably found mixed with the alluvial soil. This soil constitutes a thin stratum of gravel, resting upon Granite. On the banks and in ravines, the stratum is covered with vegetable earth more or less thick. If quartz pebbles, clay slate, brown [ron Ore, and Iron Sand con-