New Find of Diamonds in Basna Kimberlite Field, District Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh

Integrated study with inputs of geological data, airborne geophysical data, LISS III imagery data interpreted for geological applications, ground evaluation, detailed petrographic and geochemical studies has helped in identification of a field of kimberlite rocks in the area north of Basna town in Mahasamund District, Chhattisgarh. A few kimberlite bodies have been identified in the vicinity of Chandkhuri, Kandadongri and Jamnidih villages. The rock is green / olive green with a soapy feel (yellow ground) and has inequigranular texture with distinctly recognizable xenoliths in hand specimen. Serpentinised megacrysts of olivine are also common. Near Chandkhuri and Kandadongri these bodies appear to be small plug type intrusions. Near Jamnidih they have been exposed in two pits.

Three scout boreholes were drilled in Jamnidih area to collect fresh hard rock samples. In one of the borehole sample (JD/1) of a hard, massive, compact, jointed, highly fractured kimberlitic four diamonds have been encountered at a depth of 15.25 to 17.05 m.