A massive 2,492-carat diamond, now the second largest in the world, has been discovered in Botswana, according to Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. The impressive gem was unearthed at the Karowe Diamond Mine, located in northeastern Botswana, using advanced X-ray technology, the company announced on Thursday.
This extraordinary find ranks second only to the legendary 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905. While Lucara Diamond Corp did not disclose the diamond’s value or quality, the size of the stone alone has already placed it in the annals of diamond history.
“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond,” said William Lamb, President of Lucara Diamond Corp, in a statement. The company highlighted that this find is one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed and credited its Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, installed in 2017, for the discovery. This technology is specifically designed to detect and preserve large, high-value diamonds.
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi was presented with the massive stone on Thursday. The government also confirmed that it is indeed the second largest diamond ever found globally.
Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe’s largest online diamond jeweller, 77 Diamonds, acknowledged the significance of the discovery. He noted that the use of newer technology was crucial in unearthing such a large diamond intact, adding, “So we will likely see more where this came from.”
Botswana is one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds, which are a critical part of the country’s economy, contributing 30 percent to its gross domestic product and 80 percent to its exports.
- Tags: Botswana, Diamond, Mokgweetsi Masisi
