Firewood Collector Stumbles on $25,000 Diamond
August 01, 22
(IDEX Online) - A villager collecting firewood in India stumbled on a 4.39-carat rough diamond valued at $25,000.
Genda Bai, 45, was working in forest in Purusottampur, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, when she made the find.
It's an area where informal diggers routinely pay for the right to dig a small patch of land in search of diamonds - but simply finding a diamond lying on the ground, as in this case, is highly unusual.
The diamond will now be auctioned by the state government, which takes 11.5 per cent in royalty and taxes.
The remainder will go to Mrs Bai, who told reporters it would pay for a house and for her two daughters to be married.
Pic shows Genda Bai and (inset) her 4.39-ct diamond.