Dominion Diamond Mines and Rio Tinto, Canada’s independent largest diamond producer, have made a discovery of the biggest ever diamond to be found in North America. A 552-crat yellow diamond was recently unearthed to Canada from North America. On Thurday, mining comoany Dominuon Diamond Mines said in press release on Thursday that the diamond was discovered in October at Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Later it was unearthed at the Diavik Diamond Mine approximately 135 miles south of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Northwest Territories, jointly owned by mining companies Rio Tinto and Dominion Diamond Mines. This announcement was made on Friday.

The diamond was identified as of a gem quality which is suitable for jewelry. The two Candian mines Ekat and Diavik produce some high-quality gens but they know so renowned as compared to southern Africam mines that are usually known for producing huge gems.

Some of the reports suggest that the yellow stones are sold at a discount but high quality, fancy intense yellow stones can be sold for a good and premium amount. The Dominion Chief Executive Officer Shan Durgin told, “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. It’s very hard to give a ballpark estimate. It all depends on, again, the cutting and the resulting stone it ends up.”

It is estimated that this is the seventh biggest discovery in a century and would be counted among the 30 largest stones ever unearthed. Dominion said that they will soon find someone who would cut and polish the stone. The discovery has been termed as the unique discovery that has never been made.

The biggest diamond discovery which was made near Pretoria, South Africa in 1905 where biggest ever diamond to be found was unearthed. Cullinan measured 3,106-carat and was cut into several polished gems. The two largest gems made by it was The Great Star of Africa and The Lesser Star of Africa which are set in the Crown Jewels of Britain.

The Dominion expect to get a significant main stone once the diamond is polished. It will be Canadamark certified.

Published by Isha Kataria on 15 Dec 2018