Healing and Hypnotherapy Volume - 4, issue 12, 1 June 2020 | Page 35

Kalkutta was an important trading center for diamonds in central India. [6]
[clarification needed]
Diamonds were traded to the east and west of India and were recognised by
various cultures for their gemmological or industrial uses. In his work
Naturalis Historia, the Roman writer Pliny the Elder noted diamond's
ornamental uses, as well as its usefulness to engravers because of its
hardness. It is however highly doubtful that Pliny meant diamonds, and it is
assumed that in fact several minerals such as corundum, spinel, or even a
mixture with magnetite were all referred to by the word “adamas". [b]
Diamonds eventually spread throughout the world, even though India had
remained the only major source of the gemstone until diamonds were
discovered in Brazil in 1725. [3] A Chinese work from the 3rd century BC
mentions: "Foreigners wear it [diamond] in the belief that it can ward off evil
influences". [5] The Chinese, who did not find diamonds in their country, initially
did not use diamond as a jewel but used it as a "jade cutting knife". [5]
[edit]
The Hope Diamond. Its deep blue coloration is caused by trace amounts of boron in the
diamond.
See also: Diamond mining in India