It's (Fairly) Big; It's Pink: It's a Diamond

"Australia's largest rough pink diamond unearthed"
BBC News Asia (February 21, 2012)

"An Australian mining company says it has found a 12.76-carat pink diamond, the largest rough pink diamond found in the country.

"The rare diamond was found at Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia's East Kimberly region.

"Estimated to be worth millions, it has been named the Argyle Pink Jubilee, and is being cut and polished in Perth.

"It will be sold later this year after being shown around the world, including in New York and Hong Kong...."

'Big' is a relative term.

Compared to your average charcoal briquette, the Argyle Pink Jubilee isn't all that large.

From the photo, it looks like it's what - less than an inch across? Maybe a centimeter?

Compared to the sort of diamond most of us are likely to see? That thing is huge. Also very definitely pink.

A Delightfully Defective Diamond

According to diamonds-are-forever.org.uk, red, pink, or brown diamonds get their color from defects in their crystal lattice - something that happens when they're formed.

Pink diamonds are also quite rare - so folks like the sparkly rocks, even if they are 'defective,' and are willing to pay a whole lot of money for them.

Related(?) posts:

• "Quantum Entanglement, Diamonds, and New Information Storage Tech"
  (March 28, 2011)
• "Madoff Stuff Auctioned Off: Diamond Ring, Underwear"
  (November 14, 2010)
• "A Gem of an Idea for Father's Day"
  (June 18, 2010)
• "Diamonds: Ancient Crystals, New Speculation, and the Origin of Life"
  (July 28, 2008)
• "Teqila Diamonds?"
  (July 1, 2008)