Sourcing

Cullinan Mine Produces 20-Carat Blue Diamond

SourcingSep 24, 2019

Cullinan Mine Produces 20-Carat Blue Diamond

The South African diamond mining site is responsible for the largest rough diamond ever recovered.

20190924_20CaratBlue.jpg
Petra Diamonds Ltd. released this image of its most recent notable diamond recovery, a 20.08-carat blue.

London—Petra Diamonds Ltd. just announced the recovery of a large blue diamond.

The diamond miner said Monday that it dug up an “exceptional” 20.08-carat Type IIb gem-quality blue at the famed Cullinan mine.

In its lifetime, the Cullinan mine has produced many large, high-quality white diamonds, as well as a number of blues.

It produced the largest gem-quality rough diamond on record, the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered in 1905.

In April, a 425.10-carat gem-quality white diamondwas recovered from the mine.

In a statement, Petra said of its 20.08-carat blue diamond discovery: “Today’s recovery not only demonstrates the quality of Petra’s asset base, as the Cullinan diamond mine remains a significant source of rare blue diamonds, but it again confirms the prevalence of exceptional stones in the Cullinan orebody as well as the ability of the mine’s plant to recover the full spectrum of diamonds.”

In addition to Cullinan, Petra has two other diamond mines in South Africa, Finsch and Koffiefontein.

De Beers previously owned all three mines.

Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.

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