A colossal diamond weighing 2,492 carats, making it the second-largest gem ever found, has been unearthed in Botswana, according to Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. The discovery was announced in a statement from the company on Thursday.
The diamond was located at the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana through advanced X-ray technology, as revealed by Lucara. The company did not disclose the diamond’s value or quality, but it is known to be the second-largest diamond by carat weight, surpassed only by the 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905.
Lucara President William Lamb expressed his excitement about the find, describing the 2,492-carat diamond as extraordinary. The diamond’s size is depicted in photographs released by the company, showing it to be roughly the size of a human palm.
This discovery is considered one of the largest rough diamonds ever discovered, achieved with the help of the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, which has been in use since 2017. This technology is designed to detect and preserve large, high-value diamonds.
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi was presented with the diamond later that day. The government confirmed that this gem is the second-largest in the world, highlighting its significance.
Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, Europe’s largest online diamond jeweller, affirmed that this is the largest rough diamond discovered since the Cullinan Diamond, parts of which are part of Britain’s crown jewels. He attributed the find to advanced technology that enables the extraction of large diamonds without fragmentation, suggesting that more such discoveries may be forthcoming.
As one of the leading diamond producers globally, Botswana’s diamond industry is crucial to its economy, contributing 30 percent to its GDP and accounting for 80 percent of its exports.
