The tender was conducted by Sodiam E.P in Luanda, and the Lulo parcel of 609 carats consisted of 4 Type IIa diamonds weighing 41 carats, 123 carats, 208 carats and 235 carats, respectively.
Ever since the Zagami meteorite sold in 1996 at Phillips Auction as crumbs in a vial at $1,538 per gram, the universal appeal of otherworldly rocks was driving the prices of exotic samples sky-high and beyond.
In an interview with the Financial Post, Barrick chief executive Mark Bristow said that the market is underestimating the damages from tightening cycles.
The renewal would allow Freeport to begin work on a definitive feasibility study for what it calls one of the world's largest undeveloped copper resources.
