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Fresh tests for 'giant diamond' Fresh tests for 'giant diamond'
(about 5 hours later)
The company that has discovered what could be the world's largest diamond says it will carry out conclusive tests on the stone early next week.The company that has discovered what could be the world's largest diamond says it will carry out conclusive tests on the stone early next week.
The South African company says it has asked the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses to carry out the examination.The South African company says it has asked the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses to carry out the examination.
Experts have been sceptical about the discovery, saying the light-green stone may turn out to be a fluorite crystal.Experts have been sceptical about the discovery, saying the light-green stone may turn out to be a fluorite crystal.
But the firm insists it could still turn out to be a diamond.But the firm insists it could still turn out to be a diamond.
The stone is more than twice the size of the world's biggest confirmed diamond, the Koh-i-Noor, which makes up the centrepiece of the British crown jewels. But diamond industry analysts remain sceptical about whether a diamond of such a size is even possible.
But diamond industry analysts remain sceptical about whether a diamond of that size is even possible.
The stone was found earlier this week in a small mine in South Africa's north-west province.The stone was found earlier this week in a small mine in South Africa's north-west province.
A spokesman for De Beers, the world's biggest diamond mining company, said the north-west province was not known for producing gems and greenish stones were even rarer.A spokesman for De Beers, the world's biggest diamond mining company, said the north-west province was not known for producing gems and greenish stones were even rarer.
The firm also said that if the find were genuine it would be the stone of the century.The firm also said that if the find were genuine it would be the stone of the century.