Technology
Huge 1,098-CARAT diamond the size of a fist is ‘third largest ever found’
A HUGE diamond has been unearthed in Botswana and it’s thought to the third largest diamond in the world.
The precious jewel was dug up by miners in the Jwaneng mine in southern Botswana.
The huge gem is yet to be valued[/caption]
It’s considered to be the world’s most valuable mine.
The diamond itself will be valued in the coming weeks.
The largest rough diamond ever discovered was called The Cullinan and it was found in South Africa in 1905.
WP diamonds recently valued it at $2billion (£1.4billion).
Botswana First Lady Neo Masisi held the Gem diamond yesterday while standing next to Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi[/caption]
The Cullinan was 3,106.75 carats before it was cut up and the newly discovered diamond is 1,098 carats.
Carats are the units of measurement that experts use to describe the physical weight of a diamond.
The recent large diamond discovery was made on June 1 by miners who work for the Debswana mining company.
The diamond will be valued in the coming weeks[/caption]
A spokesperson for the firm said it was the largest diamond ever discovered by the company over its five decades in the business.
The Cullian diamond may have been must larger when first discovered but it was actually cut into around 100 pieces in 1908.
The largest 530-carat piece was sent to England and was placed on British Sovereign’s Royal Sceptre.
It makes up part of the Crown Jewels of England that were famously kept in the Tower of London.
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In other news, an ancient amulet once believed to have protected women and children from ‘evil spirits’ has been unveiled by archaeologists.
The mystery surrounding the age of the Cerne Abbas Giant may have finally been solved.
And, scuba divers found a huge 50 pound mammoth bone in a Florida river.
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