Found an extremely rare 2.6 billion-year-old black diamond from extraterrestrial

The rare 555.55-carat black diamond, the result of an asteroid-Earth collision billions of years ago, could be worth as much as $5 million.

The Enigma Black Diamond.

The Enigma diamond was born when a meteorite or asteroid hit the Earth 2.6 - 3.8 billion years ago. Enigma contains traces of nitrogen and hydrogen abundant in space as well as osbornite, a mineral found only in meteorites. Enigma's owner purchased it in rough stone in the 1990s and cut it into its current shape, inspired by Hamsa, the palm-shaped symbol of strength and protection in the Middle East.

After showing in Dubai, Enigma will be moved to exhibitions in Los Angeles, California and London, before the seven-day online auction begins on February 3, said Katia Nounou Boueiz, director of Sotheby's auction house in Sotheby's. United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Black diamonds, or carbonados, are composed of microcrystalline diamonds arranged in random crystallographic orientations. This stone is usually dark, opaque, porous, and has a low luminosity. They were first recognized as a diamond in 1841 by Portuguese prospectors in Brazil. They call black diamonds "carbonado" because they look like small pieces of coal.

According to Sophie Stevens, Sotheby's jewelry specialist, the carbonado black diamonds are exceptionally old. White diamonds and other colored diamonds are commonly found in Kimberlite rocks and reach the surface through volcanic eruptions. Meanwhile, carbonado black diamonds exist in alluvial deposits, meaning they are transported by water, such as streams. They are located very close to the ground.

Stevens said the Enigma diamond most likely formed after an asteroid hit the Earth and created chemical deposition from the vapor, enabling diamonds to form. It is also one of the hardest compounds in the world to cut, but experts have cut it into a 55-sided stone.