Borneo Gem-stones & Diamonds

Martapura Traditional Diamond & Gem-stone Market

Martapura is located 36 kilometers southeast of Banjarmasin. Martapura, particularly the Cempaka district, is a well known producer of diamonds. Several mining villages exist, such as Lukaas and Sungai Tiung, lying five kilometers from Martapura.People can be seen panning for diamonds at villages in the Cempaka district, eight kilometers from Martapura. Panners usually ask for guidance from "the expert one" the spirit of the village - so they will be led to the richest mining grounds.
The panners dig a hole, while others remove the soil or remove any water from the hole with buckets or with a pump. The holes are usually six to 10 meters deep. The sides are propped up with logs to prevent them from collapsing. As long as no diamonds are found, the digging continues in a horizontal direction so that tunnels are formed.
They work without schedule, while Friday most miners stay home, and activities seldom are seen. The miners start in the morning and continue until midnight, under the light of lanterns. Deposits are usually found at depths of 10 to 15 meters, in rocky earth layers. The dirt is taken out and washed. If diamonds are found.
South Kalimantan diamonds are classified into four types: petrous diamonds (yellow and of low quality), black diamonds (black and believed to posses mystical powers), white diamonds and pink diamonds (the best sparkling with the colors of a rainbow).
The Trisakti diamond was the most expensive diamond ever found in this region. It weighed 160 carats and belonged to the pink diamond category.
Diamonds are cut and polished in the Diamond Market of Martapura. Such places are always better known than the sites where the diamonds are found. That is why Martapura is also known as Diamond Town. There are several well known experts in diamond processing in Martapura.

Martapura Travel Information