In addition to Brazil and Africa, black diamonds have also been unearthed in other parts of the world, including USA and Russia. In Australia, the Ellendale Diamond Mine gained recognition for its production of high-quality black diamonds, adding to the global supply of these rare gems.
Despite the allure of black diamonds, mining them presents a myriad of challenges for miners. The remote locations of many black diamond deposits require extensive logistical planning and infrastructure development to access, often involving long journeys through rugged terrain and harsh climates. Furthermore, the geological complexity of black diamond formations poses technical challenges during extraction, necessitating specialized equipment and expertise to recover the gems safely and efficiently.
Moreover, environmental and social considerations play a crucial role in black diamond mining operations, with efforts to minimize ecological impact and ensure the well-being of local communities. Sustainable mining practices and community engagement initiatives are increasingly being prioritized to mitigate the negative effects of mining activities and promote responsible resource management.
Next, you will learn more about each type of black diamonds, their origin, composition, structure, human applications, and in the following chapter, you will be able to read about the largest natural specimens of black diamonds ever found and cut into beautiful jewelry settings. You will find it interesting to read about their history and unique characteristics.
The largest black diamonds in history
Nowadays, good quality and large black diamonds are rare and highly valued. In the past, black diamonds were not considered precious gems, and they could be bought for 5-10 dollars per carat. Now they can cost more than colorless or colored diamonds with equal weight characteristics.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most famous black diamonds, starting with the largest one.
Enigma
We'll start with the unique black diamond called "Enigma" with a record weight of 555.55 carats. At a Sotheby’s auction in February 2022, it was sold for over 4.2 million dollars. Despite its intricate and non-classical cut, the "Enigma" diamond has 55 facets. There is an opinion that it formed as a result of a meteorite impact. The owner of the diamond acquired it in its rough form in 1999. At that time, the stone weighed over 800 carats, and its processing took several years. Sotheby's adds that this is the largest fancy natural black diamond in the world. In 2006, it entered the Guinness World Records as the largest cut diamond in the world.