Gemfields discovers 6,225ct emerald in Zambia

Hang on to your hats…

Gemstone producer Gemfields today announced the discovery of an
“exceptional” 6,225 carat rough emerald in its Kagem mine in
Zambia.

The emerald was recovered during normal mining operations on
February 5, the company said in a statement, and is being
examined by Gemfields’ experts to establish a clearer
understanding of its value and significance.

The emerald has been named “Insofu” (which means “elephant” in
the language of the Bemba people indigenous to the region) due
to its size and in honour of the World Land Trust’s “Wild Lands
Elephant Corridor Project”, of which Gemfields is a participant.

Gemfields said its experts “will continue to evaluate the gem
before any final decision is taken in terms of its future”.

Ian Harebottle, chief executive of Gemfields, said: “This is a
unique find. The Insofu displays wonderful colour and good
translucency. Its sheer size, rich colour and fine protective
biotite shell make it difficult to see deep into the gem.
However, all indications suggest that the core of the emerald is
competent and that it should yield a number of cut gems of
significant size.”

The largest uncut emerald believed to have been found was in
Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974. It was an incredible 86,136-carat
natural beryl crystal. The stone was eventually valued at
$1,120,080. The largest emerald crystal ever discovered was
7,025 carats and was found in a mine in Colombia

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The largest uncut emerald believed to have been found was in
Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974. It was an incredible 86,136-carat natural
beryl crystal. The stone was eventually valued at $1,120,080. The
largest emerald crystal ever discovered was 7,025 carats and was
found in a mine in Colombia 

We need to be careful while making statements like “the largest”

First it is important to distinguish beryl from emerald. The largest
aquamarine crystal, up to this point, is 110.2 kilograms. It is
551,000 carats.

Second, quality is an important factor. For example: in 1989 a druse
was found weighing 32,750 carats. It is known as Miner’s Glory. 9000
carat of gem quality stones were obtained from it.

An important find, which may be the largest, was 140mm x 350mm
emerald crystal, found at the Sommerset mine, South Aftica. Total
weight is not known (I am not sure why), but transparent part was
24,000 carats. Material was faceted and sold for 250,000,000
French francs, which is 50,000,000 dollars and that was 1956.

The largest recorded emerald crystal is 141,000 carat found in
Brazil in 1974. But then we have stories like this

http://tinyurl.com/yjqpgd9

So nobody knows what is the largest emerald in the world.

Leonid Surpin