Chicken-egg sized diamond of 552-carat found in Canada
In a 'shining' discovery, the largest diamond known in North America has been unearthed in Canada. Mining companies Dominion Diamond Mines and Rio Tinto Group discovered the 552-carat yellow gem in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Dominion said the gemstone was discovered in October, and measures 33.74 mm by 54.56 mm, which makes it similar to the size of a chicken egg. Here's more.
Diamond suitable for jewelry, can be labeled 'fancy yellow'
Dominion CEO, Shane Durgin, said that the diamond is suitable for jewelry, as it's of gem quality. "We can label it fancy yellow, but beyond that, due to its rough nature and the abrasions received through the processing facility, that's all we can comment on," Durgin said. Yellow stones typically sell at a discount as compared to Type II whites, the most-valued and purest diamond type.
Dominion: Will select a partner to cut, polish the stone
The company said that the diamond will not be sold in its rough form, and it's too early to determine its value. "It's very hard to give a ballpark estimate. It all depends on, again, the cutting and the resulting stone it ends up," Durgin said. The company said it will select a partner to cut and polish the stone.
Diamond mining in Northwest Territories in Canada is incredibly difficult
According to Durgin, it was a "miracle" that the stone survived the mining process. "It's very unusual for a diamond of this size in this part of the world. So it's a very unique discovery," he said. Diamond mining in Northwest Territories in Canada is very difficult. There are no permanent roads, and thus the only access is by air.
A piece of the world's biggest diamond is in Britain
It comes under 30 largest stones ever unearthed and is the seventh biggest of this century, according to Bloomberg. The biggest diamond in the world 3,106-carat Cullinan, was discovered near Pretoria in South Africa in 1905. It was cut into several polished-gems, the largest two- the Great Star of Africa and the Lesser Star of Africa, are set in the Crown Jewels of Britain.
