Historically diamonds were known to be found only in alluvial deposits in southern India.[21] India led the world in diamond production from the time of their discovery in approximately the 9th century BCE[22][23] to the mid-18th century AD, but the commercial potential of these sources has been exhausted by the late 18th century and at that time eclipsed by Brazil, and later South Africa.[23]

The first non-Indian diamond source was found in Brazil in 1725.[23] While no commercial diamond production exists in the US, Arkansas and Colorado are the only states to have a verifiable source of diamonds.[24]

Today, most commercially viable diamond deposits are in Russia, Botswana, Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.[25] In 2005, Russia produced almost one-fifth of the global diamond output, reports the British Geological Survey. Australia boasts the richest diamondiferous pipe with production reaching peak levels of 42 Mct per year in the 1990’s[24]

There are also commercial deposits being actively mined in the Northwest Territories of Canada, Siberia (mostly in Yakutia territory, for example Mir pipe and Udachnaya pipe), Brazil, and in Northern and Western Australia. Diamond prospectors continue to search the globe for diamond-bearing kimberlite and lamproite pipes.