Big pink diamond found in Angola, largest in 300 years

The largest pink diamond of its kind to be found in the past 300 years, weighing 170 carats, was reportedly found in Angola.

The “Lulo Rose” diamond was discovered at the Lulo alluvial diamond mine, according to a statement posted on the website of the Lucapa Diamond Company, which owns the mine.

“Only one in 10,000 diamonds is coloured pink. So you’re certainly looking at a very rare article when you find a very large pink diamond,” Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall told newsmen.

The pink diamond is anticipated to sell for a high price at auction, but Wetherall said he is unsure of the premium that will be charged due to its hue.

Speaking from the company’s headquarters in Australia, Wetherall said Lulo is an alluvial mine which means the stones are recovered from a river bed. The Lucapa company is searching for underground deposits, known as kimberlite pipes, which would be the main source of the diamonds.

“We’re looking for the kimberlite pipes that brought these diamonds to the surface. When you find these high-value large diamonds … it certainly elevates the excitement from our perspective in our hunt for the primary source.”

According to Lucapa, the pink gemstone is the fifth-largest diamond discovered at the mine where 27 diamonds weighing 100 carats or more have been discovered.

The state-owned diamond marketing firm of Angola, Sodiam, will sell the pink diamond through an international auction. Due to its mines, Angola is one of the top 10 producers of diamonds worldwide.

“This record and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the world stage for diamond mining and demonstrates the potential and rewards for commitment and investment in our growing diamond mining industry,” Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas said, according to the Lucapa website.