Related Articles
Top Stories
May 21 2012 17:30
Mark Zuckerberg's fortune dwindled by nearly $2bn to $18.7bn within minutes as trading began again in Facebook shares – which promptly plunged by nearly $5.
May 22 2012 12:20
Power utility Eskom is concerned about meeting peak power demand as winter sets in although the situation should improve by mid-June, says CEO Brian Dames.
May 22 2012 07:36
Are trade unions still relevant, asks Marc Ashton.
London - London-listed mining company Gem Diamonds Ltd said on Thursday it had discovered the 18th biggest diamond ever found, a 494 carat gem, at its Letseng Mine in Lesotho.
"This remarkable diamond, which is yet to be named, is believed to rank as the 18th largest rough diamond. The diamond is an excellent colour and has high clarity," Gem Diamonds said in a statement.
The find "confirms the Letseng Mine's reputation as the leading producer of large gem quality diamonds," chief executive Clifford Elphick said.
Letseng, 70% owned by Gem Diamonds and 30% by Lesotho, has produced three of the world's top 20 diamonds, including the 15th largest, the 603 carat Lesotho Promise which was recovered in August 2006 and sold for $12.4m.
It has two diamond-producing "pipes", Main and Satellite.
The average price per carat achieved from Satellite in the six months to end-June was $1 894 and $1 128 from Main, compared with the world average price of $81 per carat, the company said.
Gem Diamonds also announced a first-half operating profit of $16.8m on revenue of $69.8m.
- Reuters