So far, Brazil's diamond supply is exclusively alluvial. This statement is:

So far, Brazil's diamond supply is exclusively alluvial. This statement is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Rare

Answer: (A)

The statement hinges on the difference between alluvial (placer) diamonds and primary diamond-bearing rocks. Alluvial diamonds are carried by water from their original rock and accumulate in riverbeds and other sediment, so mining focuses on the gravels and sands in those waterways. Brazil’s diamond production historically comes from these alluvial deposits found along rivers like those in Minas Gerais and Bahia, rather than from mining primary kimberlite pipes. If there hasn’t been significant, long-term development of primary diamond mines in Brazil, the practical supply remains exclusively alluvial. That’s why the statement is true.

The statement hinges on the difference between alluvial (placer) diamonds and primary diamond-bearing rocks. Alluvial diamonds are carried by water from their original rock and accumulate in riverbeds and other sediment, so mining focuses on the gravels and sands in those waterways. Brazil’s diamond production historically comes from these alluvial deposits found along rivers like those in Minas Gerais and Bahia, rather than from mining primary kimberlite pipes. If there hasn’t been significant, long-term development of primary diamond mines in Brazil, the practical supply remains exclusively alluvial. That’s why the statement is true.