A parcel of diamonds that the Zimbabwe government seized and finally released back to owner Vast Resources 15 years later contains more diamonds than the company realized.
The company thought the package, which the country seized in 2010 over a dispute about mining rights in Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields, contained approximately 129,400 carats. However, while sorting the diamonds, it discovered an additional 6,055 carats of gem-quality stones.
“The company is pleased to report that the sorting process has revealed an additional quantity of stones in the sealed historic parcels, the existence of which was previously unknown to the board of directors,” Vast Resources said last week.
The full parcel, which is now estimated at 135,139 carats, is currently in Dubai for final sorting and cleaning in preparation for sale. Vast has already identified some 36,475 carats as gem quality, it explained.
The company is in the process of selecting the first stones for sale. It intends to offer the rough in a phased manner to maximize their value, it added.
Image: Rough diamonds. (Shutterstock)
