Monster 507 carat gem found in SA

The Indian cricket team's performance in the Champions Trophy may have been conspicuously lacking in glitter, but a South African mine has become the source of yet another white sparkler, with the recovery of a 507.55 carat gemstone last week.

The gem was recovered at the Cullinan Diamond Mine, where one of the world's largest diamonds named after Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was found.

The recovery was on the country's Heritage Day last Thursday and is considered to be among the top 20 largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide.

According to Petra Diamonds, a mining group, the diamond was recovered alongside three special white stones of similar colour and clarity: a very large stone of 168 carats and two others of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

The gemstone is currently with experts for analysis, following which further details, including colour grading and clarity, would be released.

The CEO of Petra Diamonds is quoted by The Star newspaper as saying: "The Cullinan mine has again given the world a spectacularly beautiful and important diamond.
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Stoned: The gem is considered to be among the top 20 largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide

Initial indications are that it is of exceptional colour and clarity which suggests extraordinary potential for its polished yield."

The Cullinan mine is known to have a special place in the history of diamonds and is the source of the world's largest gem diamond ever recovered, known as "the Cullinan" at 3,106 carats rough.

It has also produced two other of the world's largest diamonds, the Golden Jubilee at 755 carats rough, and many other famous gems including the Taylor-Burton, at 69 carats polished.