（每日一读）2014年1月高考英语考前突破 阅读理解能力 文化教育 南非发现一颗29.6克拉蓝钻VIP专享

南非发现一颗 29.6 克拉蓝钻A rare blue diamond has been discovered in a mine in South Africa.一颗罕见的蓝钻石在南非一处矿井中被发现。The "exceptional" 29.6 carat blue diamond is the latest rare stone to be found in the Cullinan mine The 29.6-carat stone was recovered by Petra Diamonds at its Cullinan mine, about 40km (25 miles) north-east of Pretoria. "This stone is one of the most exceptional stones recovered at Cull inan during Petra's operation of the mine," the company said. Petra unearthed a 25.5 carat blue diamond which sold for $16.9m in 2013.'Class of its own' The latest discovery is also expected to sell for a high price. "The stone is an outstanding vivid blue with extraordinary saturation, tone and clarity, and has the potential to yield a polished stone of great value and importance," Petra said in a statement on Tuesday. Cullinan mine has produced hundreds of large stones and is famed for its production of blue diamonds - among the rarest and most highly coveted of all diamonds. The mine was acquired in 2008 by Petra Diamonds, which also operates in Botswana and Tanzania. A similar 26.6-carat blue rough diamond discovered by the company in May 2009 was cut into a near perfect stone and fetched just under $10m at a Sotheby's auction. Another deep-blue diamond from Cullinan was auctioned for $10.8m in 2012 and set a world record for the value per c arat. In 1905, the renowned Star of Africa blue diamond - the world's second largest cut diamond - was discovered at the Cullinan mine. The pear-shaped 530-carat stone was presented to King Edward VII and became part of the British crown jewels.