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Martapura
Traditional Diamond Mining
Martapura is the capital of the
Banjar regency, 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 work in groups. Each group
consists of the 16 to 18 people. The oldest person is usually named the
head of the
group. Before starting to work, they ask for guidance from "the expert
one" the spirit of the village - so they will
be led to the richest mining grounds.
First,
the panners have to come to an agreement with the owner of the land,
who has the right to 10 percent
of the diamonds found. Then, several people are
chosen to 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. It can 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, the head of the group must immediately be notified.
The right to offer the diamond for sale belongs
the group leader only.
In
the past, it was strictly prohibited
to talk to the person washing the gored. According to the local belief
the diamonds become
frightened and hide among the grains of sand. Women are strictly
forbidden to step
over the pits. The rough diamonds are
referred to as "virgins".
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 DiamondTown.
There are several well known
experts in diamond processing in Martapura.
Tour
Destination : Martapura & Cempaka, South Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Main Interest & Things
to do :
Martapura Cempaka traditional Diamond Digging and Market
recommended visit time is 1 day
Traditional digging is done in the area of Cempaka and Martapura
including a local markt of stones and diamonds, as one of the famoest
in Indonesia.
Rainforest and traditional farming with Coconut, Pepper and rubber
plantations can be found along the way
Sight seeing city tour at Banjarmasin
Jungle Trek can be done between villages
Culture : Banjarnese
and Dayak Ngaju
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Culture :
Banjarnese
and Dayak Ngaju
Flora & Fauna
: Rainforest & excotic tropical wild life
Tour Starting Point :
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Tour Transport
Possibilities :
by Public Bus from Banjarmasin
to Cempaka & Martapura, about 40 km from Banjarmasin city..
Estimated travel time to reach Cempaka from entry point Banjarmasin is
one hour.
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Ending
Point :
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Travel Distance
to enry
point : 40 Km to from Banjarmasin Airport, South Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Tour Duration : Short
Get Through Visit 1 Day
Accommodation
& Hotels : Simple Hotels
Grade : Usual
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