In a dazzling twist of nature, a 0.45-carat purple diamond has been unearthed from the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories—just as the mine nears its final days.
✨ Typically known for colorless and yellow diamonds, Diavik stunned the world with this vivid purple gem, likely caused by trace hydrogen or crystal lattice distortions under extreme mantle pressure.
📸 Shared quietly on social media by Rio Tinto, the find was hailed as a "pleasant surprise" and a "unique discovery."
🔍 The rough diamond, called a "makeable," is likely to be cut into a single polished stone. Diavik has produced over 140 million carats since 2003, but colored diamonds make up less than 1%—and purple ones are the rarest of all.
🪨 This gem follows other incredible discoveries at Diavik, including a 158.2-carat yellow diamond and even a 50-million-year-old petrified log, proving the geological richness of the site.
💰 Though small, this purple diamond could fetch a high premium due to its extraordinary rarity and vibrant beauty.
🌌 As the Diavik mine story winds down, this final flourish reminds us of the unpredictable magic hidden deep beneath our feet.