
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 13, 1993                   TAG: 9311130060
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW                                LENGTH: Short

5,805-CARAT EMERALD FOUND IN URAL MOUNTAINS

Miners in the Ural Mountains discovered a 5,805-carat emerald and named the huge jewel after one of the region's most famous sons - Russia's president - a newspaper said Friday.

The business daily Commersant said the color and purity of the 2 1/2-pound stone could make it one of the most valuable emeralds ever found in the country.

It said miners named the uncut jewel "The President" after President Boris Yeltsin, a Urals native.

The emerald, which probably will be sold as a museum piece, was found in the Malyshev mine about 900 miles east of Moscow. Commersant said experts initially appraised its worth at $1.5 million.

by CNB