UPSC Prelims 2007 Q66: Geography – Economic & Mineral Geography
In which one of the following districts have reserves of diamond - bearing kimberlite been
discovered in the recent past?
- (a) Hoshangabad
- (b) Raipur
- (c) Sambalpur
- (d) Warangal
Answer: (b) Raipur
Explanation
Diamond-bearing kimberlite in Raipur district
| Region | Diamond source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raipur (Chhattisgarh) | Kimberlite pipes — Payalikhand, Behradin-Kodomali | Found in the 1990s-2000s; area now in Gariaband district |
| Panna (MP) | Majhgawan kimberlite | India's only working diamond mine (NMDC) |
| Wajrakarur (AP) | Kimberlite field | Historic Golconda belt |
Kimberlite is a volcanic rock that brings diamonds up from deep in the mantle.
Other options:
Hoshangabad (MP) — Narmada valley, sandstone; Sambalpur (Odisha) — Hirakud Dam; Warangal (Telangana) — historic Kakatiya city.
Answer: (b) Raipur.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram) is not a kimberlite district.
- (b) CORRECT. Raipur district (Chhattisgarh) saw new kimberlite finds — Payalikhand and Behradin.
- (c) Incorrect. Sambalpur is known for Hirakud Dam and handlooms.
- (d) Incorrect. Warangal has no recent kimberlite discovery of note.
Key point
Kimberlite = diamond host rock. New finds: Raipur/Gariaband (Chhattisgarh). Working mine: Majhgawan, Panna (MP).
Remember
Recent kimberlite finds were in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Panna-type answers only — Panna is the old source, not a recent discovery.
- Not knowing that Gariaband was carved out of Raipur in 2012.
- Linking diamonds to Warangal through the Golconda legend — Golconda diamonds came from the Krishna gravels.
Exam tip
Diamonds: Panna = old mine; Raipur/Gariaband = new kimberlite; Wajrakarur = AP field.
Sources
- NCERT Class X — Contemporary India II, Ch 5 (Minerals and Energy Resources)
- Geological Survey of India — Kimberlite fields
- NMDC — Majhgawan Diamond Mine