RAPAPORT… Gem Diamonds has unearthed a 357-carat diamond at its Letšeng
mine in Lesotho, it said in a Twitter post Monday.
The light-brown stone, which the miner said is of “high
quality,” is the 13th rough diamond over 100 carats the company has found this
year. It’s the second-largest it has recovered in 2018, after the 910-carat
Lesotho Legend it found in January.
That stone — which the company claims to be the fifth-largest gem-quality rough diamond in history — sold for $40 million in March.
Gem Diamonds owns 70% of the Letšeng asset, with the
government of Lesotho holding the remaining 30%.
Image: The 357-carat light-brown diamond. (Gem Diamonds)
Gem Diamonds Recovers 357ct. Rough
The Bottom Line
- The 357-carat light-brown diamond is the second-largest recovered by Gem Diamonds in 2018.
- Gem Diamonds has found 13 rough diamonds over 100 carats at Letšeng so far this year.
- Gem Diamonds owns 70% of the Letšeng mine, with the Lesotho government holding 30%.
Summary by Rapaport AI
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