JSC Almazy Anabara, a subsidiary of the ALROSA group, mined the largest gem-quality diamond in Russia over the past 10 years at the Mayat diamond mine in the Anabarsky district of the Republic of Yakutia.
The weight of the record stone is 390.7 carats. The diamond found is a light crystal of irregular shape, bordered by a yellow-brown halo - a combination of mass, shape and color that is unique today. Before this, the largest gem-quality diamond weighing 401 carats was found ten years ago, in 2013.
"The discovery of one of the largest diamonds in Russian history is undoubtedly an unprecedented event and an excellent finale to the 2023 mining season. Experts have yet to study in detail and evaluate the potential of the diamond and its characteristics, but without a doubt, this is a record holder both for our company and for the country’s diamond industry," said ALROSA General Director Pavel Marinychev.
The stone was discovered during night washing of diamond-bearing sands at the Ebelyakh site of the Mayat mine. Along with the record-breaking diamond, ALROSA employees also unearthed a large colorless diamond weighing 37.7 carats with a classic octahedral shape. Currently, the crystals are sent for expert evaluation of morphological characteristics.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished