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The Sri Lankan businessman Chamila Suranga presents the rare find
Photo: CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE / EPA
An exceptionally large blue sapphire has been found in Ratnapura.
The entrepreneur Chamila Suranga has now exhibited the 310 kilogram stone on his property in Horana, a place in Sri Lanka.
The record-breaking sapphire was discovered three months ago.
The gemstone has 1.5 million carats, announced the gemstone and jewelry authority of the island state on Tuesday.
Experts from the National Gem and Jewelery Authority examined and certified the precious item, the authority announced.
An evaluation by international experts is therefore still pending.
Buying interests position themselves
The first purchase offers from the USA and Dubai are said to have already been received.
According to initial reports, the finder wants to sell the stone to a museum so that it can be preserved in one piece.
The sapphire bears the name "Queen of Asia".
The color of blue sapphires varies depending on the incidence of light from sky blue to a very dark blue.
The so-called corundums are insoluble in acids and melt at 2050 degrees Celsius.
The largest sapphire found so far also comes from Sri Lanka.
The "Star of Adam" has 1,404 carats and has been estimated at around 90 million euros.
ala / dpa
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