EDITOR’S NOTE. If you needed more proof why the “Banksters” of New York hate Russia so much, here you have it: Because, after the rise of Putin to power they are not allowed to steal – through the companies they “invest” in, the immense wealth of this country like France does in Africa by paying only 5% royalties to the poor African countries for taking their gold, oil and uranium!!…
Instead, this vast wealth is now mined by Alrosa, a Russian state-owned company. Alrosa is the world’s largest diamond producer, accounting for 30% of the $80 billion annual global trade in rough precious stones. It mines the alluvial deposits in Russia’s Arctic in Yakutia and Arkhangelsk Region.
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Huge diamond discovered in Russia
The diamond conglomerate Alrosa announced on Monday the discovery of the largest diamond in Russia in the past decade. The gem came from a mine in the Anabar district of the Republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutia.
“Experts have yet to study in detail and evaluate the potential and the characteristics of the mined diamond, but without a doubt, this is a record holder both for our company and for the country’s diamond industry,” said Alrosa General Director Pavel Marinychev, calling the find “an excellent finale to the 2023 mining season.”
The diamond is 390.7 carats in size and was discovered on September 9 by the Anabar Diamonds company, an Alrosa subsidiary operating the Mayat mine in northeastern Siberia. According to Alrosa, the find happened during the night-time washing of the diamond-bearing sands.
A photo posted by Alrosa shows a crystal with an irregular shape and a yellow-brownish halo, which is a very rare combination. The yet-unnamed gem is slightly smaller than the 401-carat diamond found in 2013.
Another diamond found in the same batch is a 37.7-carat gem with the classic octahedral shape, Alrosa said. Both have been sent to morphologists for evaluation.
Alrosa is the world’s largest diamond producer, accounting for 30% of the $80 billion annual global trade in rough precious stones. It mines the alluvial deposits in Russia’s Arctic, both in Yakutia and Arkhangelsk Region. The work is limited by harsh climate conditions, but accounts for four percent of the world’s production of diamonds in the rough.
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West looking for ways to ban Russian diamonds – NYT
The G7 and EU are set to unveil sanctions on the import of gemstones mined in Russia, including those cut and polished in other countries, the New York Times reported this week.
According to the newspaper, the G7 is expected to formally announce sanctions in September. The terms for tracking and tracing individual gemstones are reportedly being finalized, as well as the details for the accompanying customs paperwork. The restrictions could come into effect in January after the holiday retail season, the NYT noted, warning that jewelry shoppers could see prices rise.
G7 countries have been debating sanctions on Russian diamonds for more than a year. The step is strongly opposed by major gem importers such as Belgium, which is home to the world’s biggest diamond trading hub in Antwerp. In May, G7 leaders pledged to restrict trade in diamonds mined, processed or produced in Russia in an effort to further cut Moscow’s revenues, claiming they would curb the $4.5 billion Russian diamond trade by using methods including high-tech tracing.
Experts, however, say diamonds can change hands 20 to 30 times before reaching the market, making it difficult to trace their origin. “It will be important to find the right balance between ambition and realism,” Hans Merket, a researcher with the International Peace Information Service, told the NYT. He claimed it could take “years rather than months to get all noses in the right direction and reorganize this complex global supply chain.”
The US and UK have already banned imports of Russian rough diamonds, although Washington still allows the import of gems extracted in Russia if they have been substantially altered in other countries. Canada and New Zealand have adopted similar measures against Russian mining giant Alrosa.
“The current US sanctions only covered rough Russian diamonds or those cut and polished inside Russia,” said diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky. “Given 90% of diamonds are cut and polished in India, and can therefore be classed as Indian gems, the current regulations aren’t as strict as you might think.”
Meanwhile, Moscow has reoriented its diamond supplies. China, India, the UAE, Armenia, and Belarus have all seen a significant increase in rough and cut stones from the sanctioned country.
