A remarkable discovery has been made in Botswana’s northeastern Karowe Diamond Mine, where a colossal 2,492-carat diamond—the second largest in the world—was unearthed. The Canadian mining company, Lucara Diamond Corp., responsible for the find, announced the discovery on Thursday, noting the exceptional size and rarity of the stone.
The diamond, which is roughly the size of a human palm, was detected using Lucara’s state-of-the-art Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, installed at the Karowe Mine in 2017. This advanced technology has proven crucial in preserving large, high-value diamonds by allowing them to be extracted without fracturing. The discovery is being hailed as one of the most significant in the history of diamond mining.
In terms of carat weight, this extraordinary gem is second only to the legendary 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905. Parts of the Cullinan now adorn the British Crown Jewels, making this recent find even more noteworthy.
“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond,” said William Lamb, president of Lucara, in a statement celebrating the historic find.
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Botswana is one of the world’s leading diamond producers, with the industry serving as a cornerstone of the nation’s economy. Diamonds account for 30 per cent of the country’s GDP and 80 per cent of its exports. This latest discovery further solidifies Botswana’s reputation as a global diamond powerhouse.
Prior to this, the largest diamond discovered in Botswana was the 1,758-carat Sewelo, mined by Lucara in 2019 at the same Karowe Mine. Lucara has a history of uncovering significant gems in this region, including a 1,174-carat stone in 2021, also detected using the same technology.
The announcement has sparked excitement within the precious stone industry, with experts predicting that such discoveries may become more common thanks to advancements in mining technology.
Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe’s largest online jeweller, 77 Diamonds, remarked on the impact of these technological innovations: “This discovery is largely thanks to newer technology that allows larger diamonds to be extracted from the ground without breaking into pieces. So we will likely see more where this came from.”
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi was scheduled to view the gem on Thursday, underscoring the national pride in this extraordinary find. As the world watches, this massive gem is set to join the ranks of history’s most iconic gems, further highlighting Botswana’s pivotal role in the global precious stone industry.
