South African miners have claimed to have discovered the biggest diamond in the world.
The stone, estimated at 7,000 carats, has reportedly been found at an as-yet unidentified mine in North West Province.
If genuine, the four-pound diamond would be twice the size of the previous record holder, the Cullinan, which was unearthed in Gauteng Province in 1905.
Brett Jolly, a shareholder in the mine, told the Telegraph that the unblemished stone would soon be examined by a gemologist.
"It's green and it's big," he said. "Everything points to the same thing. Our guy up there has been in the industry for 25 years. I have the utmost respect for him - if he says it's a diamond, then it is."
The discovery has been met with some skepticism, with the director of one diamond-mining company retorting: "Oh come on, that's staggering."
However, Tom Tweedy of De Beers admitted that if the find was proved to be authentic, it would be an historic moment.
"If it is a diamond, it would be the diamond find of the diamond industry."
