Which country led diamond production from the early 1700s to the late 1800s?

• A. India
• B. Brazil
• C. South Africa
• D. United States

Answer: (B)

Brazil rose to prominence in diamond production after diamonds were discovered there in the early 18th century. Its rich alluvial fields, especially in Minas Gerais and Bahia, flooded the market with diamonds and made Brazil the world’s dominant producer for many decades. That leadership persisted until the mid-to-late 19th century, when South Africa’s new diamond discoveries, beginning with the 1867 Kimberley find and the development of deep mining, shifted the balance of production. India had been the historic source before Brazil’s rise, but Brazil led during this period, while the United States never reached global dominance and South Africa’s rise came later in the 19th century.