A unique diamond to be named ‘Children of Asia’

PJSC ALROSA announces that a 207.29-carat rough diamond recovered from Zarnitsa pipe at Udachny Mining and Processing Division in spring 2016, is named ‘Children of Asia’.

The relevant order was signed by Andrey Zharkov, ALROSA President.The gem-quality rough diamond measures 38.0 х 37.0 х 18.0 mm and is the largest through the history of Zarnitsa.The extracted stone represents a transparent transitional crystal form with a slightly grooved surface.

The fact of recovery of the diamond is named in honor ofthe Children of Asia International Sports Games held every four years since 1996 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.The 6th Children of Asia Games started in the capital of the Republic on July 5.The competitions will be held in 22 sports.A record number of participants, 4 thousand children from 39 countries of the world,are taking part in the Games this year.

Zarnitsa kimberlite pipe discovered in 1954 became the first primary diamond deposit in the Soviet Union.

Open-pit mining at Zarnitsa started in 1999.Identified reserves of the deposit under JORC as of 01.01.2015 amounted to 7.49 million carats.In Q1 this year, as part of increase in the open-pit mine capacity, diamond output exceeded 2.3 times the volume of diamonds extracted during the same period in 2015.

Udachny Mining and Processing Division is one of ALROSA’s core production assets engaged in the development of the Udachny underground mine named after Fedor Andreev, Zarnitsa pipe, and Piropovy Ruchey alluvial deposit.The Division started the development of Verkhne-Munskoe deposit that comprises Deimos, Zapolyarnaya, Komsomolsko-Magnitnaya, and Novinka pipes.In Q1 2016, Udachny Mining and Processing Division produced 1.09 million carats of rough diamonds.