Alrosa has announced the finding of a 78.02-carat rough diamond in Mirny in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic of Russia.
The Russian diamond mining company described the stone – which was found in May – as being transparent with a yellowish and greenish tone, as well as having a “regular shape” with small inclusions and some minor, man-made damage.
According to a company statement, “experts” at the Alrosa Diamond Sorting Centre estimated that the diamond’s value at auction would be more than US$600,000 (AU$784,970).
The diamond was found at the Alrosa Mir kimberlite pipe, which was first discovered in 1955. The pipe was initially mined using an open-pit method until 2001 before later becoming an underground mine in 2009. It was said to be have produced 1.5 billion carats in 2014.
The recent find follows the company’s discovery of a 76.07-carat rough diamond at its Yubileynaya kimberlite pipe – also located in the Sakha Republic – in February this year. That stone had been estimated be worth more than US$430,000 (AU$562,832).
No official plans have been released regarding the selling of either diamond.
More reading
Huge diamond discovery made in Russia
Massive 122-carat blue diamond discovered
232-carat white diamond discovered
Rare 29-carat blue diamond uncovered
The World’s Most Famous Diamonds