Madhya
Pradesh is the only state with a diamond mine in the country as well as in
Asia. During the year 2017-18, Madhya Pradesh has produced 28,424 carats of
diamonds (up to December 2017).
The
Majhgawan mine at Panna in the Madhya Pradesh is the only source of diamonds in
Asia producing 30,000 carats every year. This mine is located in the Panna
district of Madhya Pradesh and spreads over an area of 80 km starting from the
Paharikhera North-East and ending in the Majhgawan South-West with a width of
about 30 km. It is a complete mechanized mine making use of the latest
technology to dig out diamonds from the ore.
This
mine is owned by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) which is a
state-owned entity under the Ministry of Mines. It has about 200 employees
working for it and produces 84,000 carats of diamonds every year. The NMDC
commenced its mining operations in Panna in 1968. But it achieved success in
the year 2011 when it found the biggest ever diamond of 37.68 carats in the
Panna mines. In June 2010, the NMDC found another diamond of 34.37 carats.
The
diamonds produced by this mine are classified into four grades – Panna, with a
tint of green; Motichul, clear and brilliant; Bunsput, sepia coloured; and
Manik, with a faint orange tint. These diamonds vary from 13 carat per thousand
hectares to 6 carat per thousand hectares.