500-Carat Largest Diamond

One of the biggest diamonds ever found has been discovered at a mine in South Africa.

The rough 507-carat white stone was unearthed at the historic Cullinan mine - where the famous Cullinan diamond, the largest in the world, was discovered in 1905.

A spokesman for mining firm Petra Diamond said the gemstone found last week was among the world's 20 largest diamonds ever discovered. He added: 'Initial examinations indicate that it is of exceptional colour and clarity, and most likely to be a Type I diamond.

'At 507 carats (just over 100 grams) the diamond, which has yet to be named, is considered to be amongst the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide. It ranks alongside other illustrious diamonds recovered at the celebrated Cullinan mine.

The stone was unearthed on September 24 and was today being analysed in Petra's laboratories. Further details, including colour grading and clarity, will be released once the analysis is complete. The diamond was found alongside three other valuable diamonds, with miners also unearthing a gemstone of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

Petra confirmed the rocks were discovered during digging at the huge Cullinan mine, around 25 miles outside Pretoria in South Africa's mineral-rich Gauteng province. The original 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond became the largest rough diamond ever discovered when it was found on January 26, 1905 by miner Frederick Wells.

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