Largest pink diamond in 300 years discovered in Angola, company says
An enormous, pink diamond of 170 carats has been found in Angola and is claimed to be the most important such gemstone present in 300 years.
Named the “Lulo Rose,” the diamond was discovered on the Lulo alluvial diamond mine, the mine’s proprietor, the Lucapa Diamond Firm, introduced Wednesday on its web site.
“Just one in 10,000 diamonds is colored pink. So that you’re definitely a really uncommon article whenever you discover a very giant pink diamond,” Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall instructed The Related Press.
The pink gemstone is anticipated to fetch a excessive worth when auctioned, however Wetherall stated he does not know what sort of premium might be paid due to its color.
Mine has historical past of enormous discoveries
Lulo is an alluvial mine which implies the stones are recovered from a river mattress. The Lucapa firm is trying to find underground deposits, referred to as kimberlite pipes, which might be the principle supply of the diamonds, stated Wetherall, talking from the corporate’s headquarters in Australia.
“We’re in search of the kimberlite pipes that introduced these diamonds to the floor,” Wetherall stated. “Once you discover these high-value giant diamonds … it definitely elevates the thrill from our perspective in our hunt for the first supply.”
About 400 employees are employed on the Lulo mine, which has already produced the 2 largest diamonds ever present in Angola, together with a 404-carat clear diamond, he stated.
The pink gemstone is the fifth largest diamond discovered on the mine the place 27 diamonds of 100 carats or extra have been discovered, in line with Lucapa.
The pink diamond might be bought by worldwide tender by the Angolan state diamond advertising firm, Sodiam. Angola’s mines make it one of many world’s prime 10 producers of diamonds.
“This document and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an vital participant on the world stage for diamond mining and demonstrates the potential and rewards for dedication and funding in our rising diamond mining trade,” Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Sources, Petroleum and Gasoline stated, in line with the Lucapa web site.
The pink diamond is a powerful measurement however many clear diamonds are bigger than 1,000 carats. The Cullinan diamond present in South Africa in 1905 tipped the scales at 3,106 carats, and adorns the British Sovereign’s Sceptre.
