![]() Previous carbonado diamonds have been found in either Brazil or the Central African Republic, though exactly how and where these diamonds form is still a mystery. Black diamonds get their spooky hue from high levels of minerals like graphite that cloud the stone. The Enigma is likely a specific type of black diamond known as a carbonado diamond that appears much darker than other black diamonds because of its light-absorbing structure. Some diamond experts have pushed back on the idea that the gem came from outer space, noting that the Enigma could have originated on Earth. The Enigma weighs 555.55 carats, about the same as a deck of playing cards. "Not so sure it came from outer space," Tim McCoy, curator of the meteorite collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, tells NPR's Debbie Elliot. The diamond will be open for bidding online from February 3 to 9, and Sotheby’s will also accept cryptocurrency payments, per CNN’s Isabelle Jani-Friend.Īnother major selling point for the diamond is its supposed cosmic origin. According to a press release from the auction house, the Enigma is "thought to have been created either from a meteoric impact or having actually emerged from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth."īut some experts remain skeptical of these otherworldly claims. ![]() Sotheby’s says they expect the diamond to fetch at least 5 million British pounds-around $6.8 million USD, because of its unusual color, shape, and weight. The gem was on display earlier this week before it will travel to Los Angeles, and then to London for the online auction in February. Because Khamsa means five in Arabic, “there’s a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond,” she says. “The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection,” jewelry specialist Sophie Stevens says to the Associated Press. The Enigma, which has been cut to weigh exactly 555.55 carats and has 55 facets, is believed to be the largest cut black diamond in the world. The diamond was unveiled Tuesday by Sotheby’s Dubai, who says the massive black gem may have come from outer space. A one-of-a-kind black diamond dubbed the “Enigma" will go up for auction next month and is expected to sell for more around $7 million USD. "So it was clear it was not an Earth rock," Magee told .Įven before the space rock had breached Earth's atmosphere, it was exposed to a lot of heat in outer space that had heavily altered its structure and composition, so much so that it is difficult to easily distinguish individual grains or chondrules that make up the meteorite, scientists shared in Thursday's update.įollow Sharmila Kuthunur on Twitter. Based on initial estimates, the meteorite is a chondrite of class LL-6, which has less iron than other members of its family and is at least 30 to 40% denser than the most common rocks on Earth, like slate or granite. ![]() The team studied the rock's texture and composition by placing it inside a large chamber of a scanning electron microscope. Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history Canadian meteorite's roof crash leads to research on space rock orbits and building strikes Meteor showers 2023: Where, when and how to see them
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