30 November 2018
Solomon Islands: Exciting news about the discovery of what is believed to be the biggest crystal natural Moisssanite
The Solomon Star newspaper reported today, Friday, that a team from the Technical Institution of Malaita (TIM) had discovered what is believed to be the biggest crystal natural Moissanite ever found on Malaita.
The world’s biggest crystal natural Moissanite ever recorded was 4.14 mm discovered in north-eastern Israel along the Kishon River in 2012.
However, the crystal neural Moissanite that was uncovered in East Kwara’ae was measured at 15 mm with the biggest one measured about 20 mm. This sets a new local, regional and world record.
Quoting the Solomon Star “This discovery breaks the world record on the size of the biggest Moissanite ever discovered.”
According to the Instructor and Head of Gemology at the Department of Technical Institute of Malaita, Henry Dao, Moissanite is one of the rarest mineral on the planet earth.
Mr, Dao told the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview after the discovery that synthetic Moissanite was created as a substitute for diamonds; however, the search for natural Moissanite is incredibly high.
“Moissanite is almost identical to diamond with a hardness of 9.25 on Moh’s scale and a diamond is 10,” Mr Dao told the Solomon Star.
The TIM is aiming at developing a gemstones cottage industry in the local province where the latest discovery of Moissanite could prove a bonus to the institution that is dedicated to gemstone development locally.
With the reported local discovery of Moissanite, I wish much success to TIM in continuing exploration for more of the valuable gemstones and ultimately see a flourishing cottage industry spring up to help the East Kwara’ae community generate some much needed income
Yours sincerely
Frank Short.
