Kalimantan gem-hunters find 77 carat diamond

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Four traditional prospectors in Banjar district here found a 77-carat diamond, Antara reported on Thursday.

The rough diamond, which had a reddish hue, was found on Sunday in Kait-Kait Ujung village, the news agency said.

The four local panners had been looking for semi-precious gem stones when they stumbled on the diamond.

A local diamond trader ascertained the diamond's weight, the agency said.

The news agency did not provide the estimated value of the diamond, only saying it would be worth billions of rupiah.

The whereabouts of the diamond was unknown, as the team declined to say where it had been sent, or the name of the buyer.