A 170-carat pink diamond found in Angola stands out as the largest such gemstone present in 300 years, in accordance with Australian miner Lucapa Diamond Firm.
Named the “Lulo Rose,” the diamond was discovered on the Lulo alluvial diamond mine within the Lunda Norte area of Angola in Africa, the corporate mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday, with its companions, state-run diamond miner Endiama and Rosas & Petalas, a non-public Angolan firm.
Angola’s mines are among the many world’s high ten producers of diamonds, in accordance with the Gemological Institute of America, which researches diamond manufacturing. In alluvial diamond mining, stones are recovered from gravel and sand discovered on riverbeds.
Just one in 10,000 diamonds discovered are coloured, in accordance with Stephen Wetherall, managing director of the Lucapa Diamond Firm.
“And just one in each 100 diamonds is larger than 10.8 carats in dimension, so recovering a 170-carat pink diamond means we’re coping with a particularly uncommon article,” Wetherall informed CNN.
“We have now recovered pink diamonds earlier than, however discovering one this dimension is extraordinarily uncommon,” he mentioned.
The “Lulo Rose” remains to be being valued to find out its approximate price earlier than being bought at public sale. Credit score: Lucapa Diamond Firm
The pink gemstone is anticipated be auctioned by the Angolan state diamond advertising and marketing firm, Sodiam. Wetherall declined to provide an estimate of its price as a result of the diamond remains to be being examined and valued.
The Angolan authorities additionally hailed the “historic” restoration of the gem.
“The file 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,” mentioned Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s minister of mineral assets, petroleum and fuel.
Angola’s largest diamond, dubbed the “4th February Stone,” was recovered from the Lulo mine in February 2016, in accordance with Lucapa. The 404.2-carat stone bought for $16 million.
