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 mechanised 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 carats per thousand hectares to 6 carats per thousand hectares.
