Miner rocks diamond market with large finds

Global diamond producer Gem Diamonds has discovered two diamonds over 100 carats at its Lesotho mine

Thomas Biesheuvel

Gem Diamonds has discovered two diamonds bigger than 100 carats at its Lesotho mine in southern Africa, bringing the struggling miner a step closer to ending a drought of large stones.

Gem unearthed a 104.73 carat D colour Type IIa diamond and a 151.52 carat Type I yellow diamond at its Letseng mine, the company said in a statement yesterday. Type IIa diamonds contain very little or no nitrogen atoms and are the most expensive stones.