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| Sierra Leone pastor finds huge diamond in Kono | Sierra Leone pastor finds huge diamond in Kono |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Christian pastor has discovered one of the world's largest uncut diamonds in Sierra Leone's Kono district. | A Christian pastor has discovered one of the world's largest uncut diamonds in Sierra Leone's Kono district. |
| The diamond, weighing 709 carats, is now locked up in Sierra Leone's central bank in Freetown. It is one of the 20 largest diamonds ever found. | The diamond, weighing 709 carats, is now locked up in Sierra Leone's central bank in Freetown. It is one of the 20 largest diamonds ever found. |
| Freelance, or artisanal, miners are common in Sierra Leone's diamond-rich areas, reports the BBC's Umaru Fofana. | Freelance, or artisanal, miners are common in Sierra Leone's diamond-rich areas, reports the BBC's Umaru Fofana. |
| But there are questions over whether the community will benefit from the gemstone, he adds. | But there are questions over whether the community will benefit from the gemstone, he adds. |
| Pastor Emmanuel Momoh's discovery, which has not yet been valued, is the biggest diamond to be found in Sierra Leone since 1972, when the 969-carat Star of Sierra Leone was dug up. | Pastor Emmanuel Momoh's discovery, which has not yet been valued, is the biggest diamond to be found in Sierra Leone since 1972, when the 969-carat Star of Sierra Leone was dug up. |
| It is also the 13th largest diamond ever to be found, says Mathew Nyaungwa from Rough and Polished diamond analysts. | It is also the 13th largest diamond ever to be found, says Mathew Nyaungwa from Rough and Polished diamond analysts. |
| Mr Nyaungwa adds that it is difficult to estimate a price as it is "quality not size [that] determines the value of a diamond". Our correspondent says that the discovery may have a blemish. | Mr Nyaungwa adds that it is difficult to estimate a price as it is "quality not size [that] determines the value of a diamond". Our correspondent says that the discovery may have a blemish. |
| Last May, diamond-mining firm Lucara sold a 813-carat stone for $63m (£51m) at a closed auction in London. | Last May, diamond-mining firm Lucara sold a 813-carat stone for $63m (£51m) at a closed auction in London. |
| The diamond was first taken to President Ernest Bai Koroma on Wednesday evening before being locked up. | The diamond was first taken to President Ernest Bai Koroma on Wednesday evening before being locked up. |
| The president "thanked the [local] chief and his people for not smuggling the diamond out of the country", a statement from the presidency says. | The president "thanked the [local] chief and his people for not smuggling the diamond out of the country", a statement from the presidency says. |
| Mr Koroma said that the owners should get "what is due to them" and it should "benefit the country as a whole", it adds. | Mr Koroma said that the owners should get "what is due to them" and it should "benefit the country as a whole", it adds. |
| World's five largest diamonds: | World's five largest diamonds: |
| 1. Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905, weighed 3,107 carats | 1. Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905, weighed 3,107 carats |
| 2. Lesedi La Rona, found in Botswana in 2015, weighed 1,111 carats | 2. Lesedi La Rona, found in Botswana in 2015, weighed 1,111 carats |
| 3. Excelsior Diamond, found in South Africa in 1893, weighed 995 carats | 3. Excelsior Diamond, found in South Africa in 1893, weighed 995 carats |
| 4. Star of Sierra Leone, found in Sierra Leone in 1972, weighed 969 carats | 4. Star of Sierra Leone, found in Sierra Leone in 1972, weighed 969 carats |
| 5. Incomparable Diamond, found in DR Congo in 1984, weighed 890 carats | 5. Incomparable Diamond, found in DR Congo in 1984, weighed 890 carats |
| Source: Mathew Nyaungwa, Rough and Polished | Source: Mathew Nyaungwa, Rough and Polished |
| Sierra Leone is well known for its diamond industry but it has had a chequered history. | Sierra Leone is well known for its diamond industry but it has had a chequered history. |
| Diamond sales partly fuelled the country's decade-long civil war when rebel groups exchanged them for weapons. | Diamond sales partly fuelled the country's decade-long civil war when rebel groups exchanged them for weapons. |
| This aspect of the conflict gained global exposure in the Hollywood film Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Djimon Hounsou. | This aspect of the conflict gained global exposure in the Hollywood film Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Djimon Hounsou. |
| There has been a spate of large diamond finds in recent years at mines in southern Africa, including a 1,111-carat diamond in Botswana in 2015. |