A 20.08-carat Blue Diamond Recovered in South Africa

[Petra Diamonds - South Africa] Petra has yielded an exceptional 20.08 carat blue gem-quality Type IIb diamond from the Cullinan Diamond Mine. The company said in a statement "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." 

Earlier this year, the company also recovered a 6.12-carat Type II blue diamond at the Cullinan Mine.

Other impressive diamonds the mine has recovered in recent years include:

• The Star of Josephine found in 2008, which was sold for $9.49 million, ($1.35 million per carat), 
• A 25.5 carat blue diamond, which was sold in May 2013 for $16.9 million ($663,11 million per carat),
• The legendary 122.52-carat blue diamond, called "The Cullinan Dream". The stone was sold for $27.6 million, or $225,269 per carat and four large polished diamonds came out of the big rough stone. 
• The ‘Blue Moon’, a 12,03 carat ‘internally flawless’ Fancy Vivid blue which was auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva in Geneva in November 2015 for US$48.47 million ($4 million per carat).

The Company has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit producing mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Petra also conducts a limited exploration program in Botswana and South Africa.

Viewings of the 20.08-carat diamond will run from November 1 to 7 at Petra’s marketing offices in Johannesburg. The tender will take place at the city’s Diamond Exchange and Export Centre, beginning on November 8 and closing at 12 p.m. on November 15.

 Image Credit: Petra Diamonds