Ekeomah Atuonwu
The biggest pink diamond of its kind to be found in 300 years has reportedly been unearthed in Angola and weighs 170 carats.
The “Lulo Rose” diamond was discovered in the Lulo alluvial diamond mine, according to a statement posted on the website of the Lucapa Diamond Company, which owns the mine.
The pink gemstone is anticipated to sell for a high price at auction, but CEO Stephen Wetherall said he is unsure of the premium that would be charged due to its hue.
Lulo is an alluvial mine which means the stones are recovered from a river bed. The Lucapa company is searching for the underground deposits, known as kimberlite pipes, which would be the main source of the diamonds, said Wetherall, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Australia.
The pink gemstone is the fifth largest diamond found at the mine where 27 diamonds of 100 carats or more have been found, according to Lucapa.
The pink diamond will be sold by international tender by the Angolan state diamond marketing company, Sodiam. Angola’s mines make it one of the world’s top 10 producers of diamonds.
