Venezuela diamonds come from the same ancient diamond-bearing geological formations as the Horn of Africa, a link that supports the theory the American and African continents were once joined. Both regions produce distinctive greenish-yellow diamonds that display exceptionally strong fluorescence, glowing vividly under ultraviolet light. Venezuela diamonds are typically octahedral or dodecahedral in shape, with few inclusions.

Among Venezuela’s natural color diamonds, collectors especially prize intense yellow stones, many of which originate near the Brazilian border. The country also produces colorless, brown, and greenish-yellow diamonds.

History of Diamond Mining in Venezuela

Although diamond discoveries in Venezuela date back to the early 20th century, the country’s most famous find was the 155-carat “Barrabas” Diamond uncovered in 1942 in the Guaniamo region. Large-scale exploration of Guaniamo began in the late 1960s, with artisanal recovery from river gravels giving way to the discovery of diamond-bearing kimberlites in 1982.

Guaniamo is now recognised as one of South America’s most important diamondiferous provinces, with kimberlite bodies spread across several sectors, including La Ceniza. These volcanic pipes are the primary source of Venezuela’s diamonds and are notable for their geological diversity, which influences both diamond size and quality.

Geology and Production

The kimberlites of Guaniamo vary from fine-grained, clay-altered rock to coarse-grained porphyritic material rich in olivine and pyrope garnet — a known indicator of diamond potential.

This geological complexity requires miners to adapt their mining and processing methods to each ore type. Venezuela produces far fewer diamonds than major African producers, with small-scale miners recovering most of its output. In peak years, small operators and artisans have produced around 325,000 carats, valued at an average of $125 per carat.

Artisanal Mining and Regulation

Artisanal activity has historically dominated diamond mining in Venezuela, providing vital income for remote communities but also creating challenges

Informal operations can lead to environmental degradation and poor recovery efficiency.
Traceability is more complex, making compliance with international certification schemes essential.

Venezuela has engaged with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to ensure its exports are conflict-free. However, monitoring artisanal output and ensuring all production enters the legal chain remains an ongoing effort.

Ethical Sourcing and Market Position

Unlike countries with histories of conflict diamonds, Venezuela’s main challenge lies in formalising artisanal mining and improving transparency. The geology of Guaniamo produces stones of excellent quality, but limited large-scale investment and infrastructure mean the country’s potential is still underdeveloped.

For buyers, the key is to source through suppliers who can document provenance and Kimberley Process certification.

Frequently Asked Questions about Venezuela Diamonds

Where are diamonds found in Venezuela?

The Guaniamo region of Bolívar State hosts Venezuela’s most productive diamond deposits, where miners have worked diamond-bearing kimberlites and ancient alluvial gravels since the late 20th century. Smaller finds also occur near the Brazilian border. These deposits yield a mix of colorless, greenish-yellow, brown, and intense yellow diamonds.

What is special about Venezuelan diamonds?

Venezuelan diamonds exhibit strong fluorescence and display colors ranging from vivid greenish-yellow to intense yellow.

Venezuelan diamonds share geological characteristics with deposits in the Horn of Africa, producing stones with unusually high fluorescence that is striking under UV light. This unique trait, along with their often high clarity, makes them desirable to collectors and gem enthusiasts (GIA).

What is the Barrabas Diamond?

It is the largest diamond ever found in Venezuela, weighing 155 carats.
Discovered in 1942 in the Guaniamo region, the Barrabas Diamond remains a landmark in the country’s gemological history. Its size and quality drew attention to Venezuela as a diamond source and led to increased exploration of the region (Mindat).

How are Venezuelan diamonds mined?

Artisanal and small-scale miners recover most of Venezuela’s diamonds. While Guaniamo has seen limited mechanised operations, miners mainly use traditional methods such as panning and hand-sorting gravels. This small-scale approach sustains local economies but can make traceability more challenging (Kimberley Process).

Are Venezuelan diamonds conflict-free?

They can be, if sourced through certified channels.
Venezuela participates in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds, but due to the dominance of artisanal mining, buyers should ensure stones come from reputable suppliers with documented certification, such as Langerman Diamonds.

What colors of diamonds are found in Venezuela?

Colorless, greenish-yellow, intense yellow, and brown.
While colorless diamonds are present, Venezuela is most famous for its vivid yellow diamonds and rare greenish-yellow stones with strong fluorescence, making them distinctive in the global diamond market (GIA).