VOA新闻杂志2022--安哥拉发现巨大粉红色钻石

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A large and very rare pink diamond has been found in the African country of Angola.

The pink diamond weighs 170 carats. A carat is a weight measurement used only with some valuable minerals. It is equal to 200 milligrams. The diamond is said to be one of the largest gemstones found in 300 years.

The gem¹ even has a name. It is called "Lulo Rose." The mine owner, Lucapa Diamond Company, said on their website that it was found in the Lulo alluvial² diamond mine. Alluvial mines are near or in riverbeds.

This photo supplied by Lucapa Diamond Company on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, shows the 170 carat pink diamond, right, recovered from Lulo, Angola.

This photo supplied by Lucapa Diamond Company on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, shows the 170 carat pink diamond, right, recovered from Lulo, Angola.

The chief of Lucapa, Stephan Wetherall, told the Associated Press, "Only one in 10,000 diamonds is colored pink. So, you're certainly looking at a very rare article when you find a very large pink diamond."

Wetherall also said that he does not know how much someone will pay for this diamond because of its color, but the value is expected to be very high.

The Lucapa company searches for underground rock formations called "kimberlite pipes." This is known to be a main source of diamonds, said Wetherall.

He said, "We're looking for the kimberlite pipes that brought these diamonds to the surface. When you find these high-value large diamonds ... it certainly elevates⁴ the excitement from our perspective in our hunt for the primary source."

The Lulo mine, which employs around 400 people, has already found two of the largest diamonds ever found in Angola. This includes a 404-carat clear diamond, Wetherall said.

Lucapa said the newest pink gemstone is the fifth largest found at the mine.

Angolan mines are one of the world's top 10 producers of diamonds. The company Sodiam, an Angolan state diamond marketer, will sell the pink diamond by international tender.

Diamantino Azevedo is Angola's natural resource minister. He reportedly said, the "pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the world stage for diamond mining..." His comments were found on the Lucapa website.

Although the pink diamond is very large and rare, there are a number of much larger clear diamonds.

A diamond called the Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905, weighs 3,106 carats. It is in the scepter of Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Words in This Story

gemstone – n. a stone that can be used in jewelry⁵ when it is cut and polished

article –n. a particular kind of object

elevate³ – v. to raise someone or something to a higher rank or level

perspective — n. a way of thinking about and understanding something

tender – n. an offer or proposal made for acceptance, like a contract

scepter – n. a long decorated stick

1 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

2 alluvial   

adj.冲积的；淤积的

参考例句：

• Alluvial soils usually grow the best crops.淤积土壤通常能长出最好的庄稼。
• A usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river.三角洲河口常见的三角形沉淀淤积地带。

3 elevate   

vt.提升职位，改善，使兴高采烈，举起

参考例句：

• Reading good books elevate one's mind.阅读好书可提高人的心灵修养。
• Emotional stress can elevate blood pressure.情绪压力可能会导致血压升高。

4 elevates   

举起( elevate的第三人称单数 )； 提高； 提升； 鼓舞

参考例句：

• Good reading elevates the mind. 阅读好书可使思想高尚。
• During inhalation, contraction of the intercostal muscles elevates the ribs. 吸气时肋间肌收缩，提起肋骨。

5 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。