Nordestina: There’s a new, silent diamond rush going on in Brazil. In late 2016, a new mine was discovered in the city of Nordestina, in the state of Bahia. It could increase Brazil’s diamond production by up to ten times and place the country among the world’s top 11 producers.

This group, of course, is by no means large. But the 21 nations producing diamonds have earned roughly $13 billion in 2015 alone.

During the 18th century, Brazil was the world leader in diamond extraction. Today, though, the South American giant represents only 0.02 percent of the world’s production – 19th worldwide.

The new Nordestina mine could reach its peak by 2020, producing 400,000 carats – which would propel Brazil to the 11th position in the ranking. In 2015, the world produced a total of 127 million carats. Belgian and South African investors have quickly operated to extract primary diamond in Brazil.

The Diamond Brazil Project, carried out by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, has found 1,344 kimberlites in 23 mining fields. Kimberlites are rocks best-known for containing rough diamonds.