Diamond

"Why do you think I know anything about diamonds? Just because of my name?! Fuck you!"

Diamond Drop (Mayor of Telos)

Introduction

One of the many legal runs that you can do on the island of Altis is diamond mining. diamonds is a mineral that is found in the ground and can be processed into and sold as cut gems. This is a good “mid-game” run as its payout is the second highest of all the legal runs and enough for medium to large scale operations that can be increased with possession of a Worker’s Protection License.

Starting the Run

Before you begin, it is a good idea to check the market value of diamonds using the market tab on your “Y” menu to make sure nobody has sold diamonds recently to maximize your profits. It is also recommended to stop by the DMV and purchase a “diamonds processing license” as it is a prerequisite for processing the minerals into gems for sale. It is also necessary to take a pickaxe, which can be purchased at any market or gas station, as well as 3 items of food and water to sustain yourself for the duration of the run. Once you are ready you will make your way to the truck shop that can be found just east of Pygros and begin to head directly north to the diamond mines. The mine itself is shielded by a hill and lots of foliage that will both protect your presence from being discovered and will make for very useful cover if you come under attack from rebels. You will be able to begin harvesting once you are near the icon that is displayed on the map by using your windows key to harvest. Moving around while harvesting will increase pick up speed and just might throw off any would-be sharpshooters. Fortunately, there is a bonus for processing that will incrementally give you faster progress as you process more diamonds if you possess a Worker’s Protection License

An aerial view of the mine.
A route from a garage to the mine.

Processing

Once you have made your way to the diamond processing marked on the map, you can begin processing by scroll wheeling on the device located inside the building. It takes a long time to process so be prepared as you can be very vulnerable. Once you have processed all your goods, you can make your way to the diamond trader.

Selling

After making your way to the diamond trader, you can sell your items. Make sure to deposit your money at the nearest atm before you begin any other activities.