Gemfields has officially announced the discovery of an absolutely enormous rough emerald earlier this month in their Kagem mine in Zambia.

The emerald has been named “Insofu,” which means ‘elephant,’ by the indigenous Bemba people to both honor its size and pay tribute to the World Land Trust’s “Wild Lands Elephant Corridor Project.”

The emerald weighs in at 6,225 carats and is currently under the scrutiny of experts to determine its value and evaluate what possible futures it might have.

Ian Harebottle, chief executive of Gemfields, said: “This is a unique find. The Insofu displays wonderful colour and good translucency. Its sheer size, rich colour and fine protective biotite shell make it difficult to see deep into the gem.”

He added: “all indications suggest that the core of the emerald is competent and that it should yield a number of cut gems of significant size.”

The largest uncut emerald in the world is an 86,136-carat natural emerald, eventually valued at $1,120,080, found in Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974.

Source: Telegraph