Previous Year Question
Which of the following countries is the largest producer of diamond?
Australia
Venezuela
Russia
Botswana
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Russia is one of the world's major producers of natural diamonds and has remained a leading country in terms of rough diamond production by volume. Its major diamond-producing regions are concentrated mainly in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and the Arkhangelsk region.
Diamonds in Russia are mainly obtained from kimberlite pipes. Kimberlite is a volcanic rock that serves as an important geological medium for bringing diamonds from the Earth's mantle towards the surface.
Russia was also the world's leading producer by rough-diamond volume in 2012. Its production in that year was approximately 34.93 million carats.
Current status: In 2024, Russia still produced about 37.32 million carats of rough diamonds, substantially more than Botswana's approximately 18.13 million carats. Thus, the answer to this old question remains Russia even in the current position.
It is important to distinguish between diamond production measured by volume and by value. Botswana generally produces high-value diamonds, so rankings based on value may differ; however, in terms of production volume, the answer is Russia.