De Beers Looking at Greenland’s Marine Diamonds

                              

De Beers has begun investigating Greenland’s potential as a source of high-value marine diamonds.

The miner commissioned a government agency to carry out a survey into diamond deposits, which are “known to be present” near the coast in the west of the Arctic island, according to an environmental assessment report by De Beers.

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) — part of the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities — carried out the eight-day research in late September. GEUS set up and ran the survey, with De Beers requesting to extend it and participate in it, a spokesperson for the miner told Rapaport News Wednesday.

The purpose of the “small-scale, early-stage research” was to understand the region’s topography, he added, noting that it was unclear whether the location lent itself to concentrated sediments.

“De Beers Marine (DBM) would like to determine whether the offshore environment is conducive to the formation of secondary diamond deposits,” the environmental report said. “In order to do this, high-resolution geophysical data is required.”

Marine diamonds are generally of high quality, because only the best stones survive the impact of being washed around by water. De Beers currently mines marine diamonds off the coast of Namibia; the country’s 2020 rough production had a value of $465 per carat, one of the highest in the world, according to Kimberley Process data. The company is not carrying out similar surveys anywhere else, the spokesperson confirmed.

De Beers also operates land-based mining in Botswana, South Africa and Canada.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Looking at Greenland’s Marine Diamonds

                              

De Beers has begun investigating Greenland’s potential as a source of high-value marine diamonds.

The miner commissioned a government agency to carry out a survey into diamond deposits, which are “known to be present” near the coast in the west of the Arctic island, according to an environmental assessment report by De Beers.

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) — part of the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities — carried out the eight-day research in late September. GEUS set up and ran the survey, with De Beers requesting to extend it and participate in it, a spokesperson for the miner told Rapaport News Wednesday.

The purpose of the “small-scale, early-stage research” was to understand the region’s topography, he added, noting that it was unclear whether the location lent itself to concentrated sediments.

“De Beers Marine (DBM) would like to determine whether the offshore environment is conducive to the formation of secondary diamond deposits,” the environmental report said. “In order to do this, high-resolution geophysical data is required.”

Marine diamonds are generally of high quality, because only the best stones survive the impact of being washed around by water. De Beers currently mines marine diamonds off the coast of Namibia; the country’s 2020 rough production had a value of $465 per carat, one of the highest in the world, according to Kimberley Process data. The company is not carrying out similar surveys anywhere else, the spokesperson confirmed.

De Beers also operates land-based mining in Botswana, South Africa and Canada.

Source: DCLA

Crater of Diamonds visitor finds 4.38-carat yellow diamond

4.38 carat rough yellow diamond

A California woman visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas found a 4.38 carat yellow diamond after less than an hour of searching.

Arkansas State Parks said Noreen Wredberg of Granite Bay was visiting the park with her husband on Thursday and had been looking for gems in an open field for about 40 minutes when she spotted something shiny on the surface.

“I didn’t know it was a diamond then, but it was clean and shiny, so I picked it up,” Wredberg recalled.

Wredberg’s husband, Michael, took her find to the Diamond Discovery Center, where it was identified as a 4.38 carat yellow diamond.

“When I first saw this diamond under the microscope, I thought, ‘Wow, what a beautiful shape and color,'” Park Superintendent Caleb Howell said. “Mrs. Wredberg’s diamond weighs more than four carats and is about the size of a jellybean, with a pear shape and a lemonade yellow color.”

Officials said Wredberg’s discovery is the largest diamond found at the park since October 2020.

Wredberg said she hasn’t yet decided whether to have the diamond cut or to leave it as is.

“I don’t even know what it’s worth yet. It’s all new to me,” she said.

Source: DCLA

Crater of Diamonds visitor finds 4.38-carat yellow diamond

4.38 carat rough yellow diamond

A California woman visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas found a 4.38 carat yellow diamond after less than an hour of searching.

Arkansas State Parks said Noreen Wredberg of Granite Bay was visiting the park with her husband on Thursday and had been looking for gems in an open field for about 40 minutes when she spotted something shiny on the surface.

“I didn’t know it was a diamond then, but it was clean and shiny, so I picked it up,” Wredberg recalled.

Wredberg’s husband, Michael, took her find to the Diamond Discovery Center, where it was identified as a 4.38 carat yellow diamond.

“When I first saw this diamond under the microscope, I thought, ‘Wow, what a beautiful shape and color,'” Park Superintendent Caleb Howell said. “Mrs. Wredberg’s diamond weighs more than four carats and is about the size of a jellybean, with a pear shape and a lemonade yellow color.”

Officials said Wredberg’s discovery is the largest diamond found at the park since October 2020.

Wredberg said she hasn’t yet decided whether to have the diamond cut or to leave it as is.

“I don’t even know what it’s worth yet. It’s all new to me,” she said.

Source: DCLA

Officials Face Fraud Charges over Missing Diamonds

 

A diamond held by dop is polished on rotating automatic cast iron lap

Four government officials have been arrested in South Africa, following the disappearance of rough gems bought for a diamond cutting course.

The suspects, all employees at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, were detained last Wednesday by the Hawks, the force that specializes in corruption and economic crime. They all face fraud charges.
Back in 2010 the European Union donated over $440,000 to fund a mining qualification course –  which included cutting and polishing – for 40 students at the Kimberley Diamonds International Jewellery Academy (KIDJA), Northern Cape.
In July 2021 a random audit inspection discovered that rough gems bought for training purposes had disappeared.
They were reportedly purchased from a private entity without the necessary licenses.
Four suspects, aged 47 to 66, are due to appear at Kimberley Magistrates’ Court.

Source: DCLA

Officials Face Fraud Charges over Missing Diamonds

 

A diamond held by dop is polished on rotating automatic cast iron lap

Four government officials have been arrested in South Africa, following the disappearance of rough gems bought for a diamond cutting course.

The suspects, all employees at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, were detained last Wednesday by the Hawks, the force that specializes in corruption and economic crime. They all face fraud charges.
Back in 2010 the European Union donated over $440,000 to fund a mining qualification course –  which included cutting and polishing – for 40 students at the Kimberley Diamonds International Jewellery Academy (KIDJA), Northern Cape.
In July 2021 a random audit inspection discovered that rough gems bought for training purposes had disappeared.
They were reportedly purchased from a private entity without the necessary licenses.
Four suspects, aged 47 to 66, are due to appear at Kimberley Magistrates’ Court.

Source: DCLA

Belgian Lab Detects Diamond with Fake Inscription

  

       The diamond bearing the fake GIA inscription.

HRD Antwerp recently discovered a fake inscription on a polished diamond the lab had received for grading.

The 1.50-carat stone had a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) laser inscription corresponding to a natural grading report, HRD said Monday. The accompanying report listed the diamond as natural, with no color treatments. The stone was further identified as type IIa, meaning it contained virtually no elements other than carbon. However, during testing, the Antwerp lab found that the diamond had undergone High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) color treatment.

Although the diamond’s carat weight, color and cut precisely matched the GIA report, HRD noticed inconsistencies with clarity characteristics that were quite similar to those listed in the certification and could easily be mistaken during a standard loupe inspection, it explained.

“Detailed microscopic investigation by an experienced grader revealed that this was not the same diamond described in the report,” HRD said. “The clarity characteristics did not completely overlap. Since these characteristics are a unique fingerprint of the diamond, the inscription was conclusively identified as false. The diamond at hand had been intentionally inscribed with a fake laser inscription to deceive the customer.”

Correction: The story has been updated to clarify what was disclosed in the report and the findings of HRD.

Source: DCLA