Rare blue diamond found in South Africa

This 29.6 carat blue diamond was recovered at the Cullinan Diamond Mine near Pretoria, South Africa.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

This 29.6 carat blue diamond was recovered at the Cullinan Diamond Mine near Pretoria, South Africa.

JOHANNESBURG — A mining company says it has found a rare blue diamond in South Africa.

Petra Diamonds says the 29.6-carat diamond came from the Cullinan mine, source of some of the world’s most famous diamonds. Cullinan lies near Pretoria, the South African capital.

Petra Diamonds said in a statement Tuesday that the diamond is a vivid blue with extraordinary tone and clarity, and could yield a polished stone of great value.

The Cullinan mine yielded the 530-carat Star of Africa blue diamond that is part of the British crown jewels.