Lucara miners recovered a dazzling 2,492 carat diamond from the Karowe mine in Botswana.
Photo: Courtesy of CNW Group/Lucara Diamond Corp.
Dazzling Discovery: Second-Largest Diamond in History Found in Botswana
The fully intact gem, weighing in at a staggering 2,492 carats, was unearthed by a team using X-ray technology
The second-largest diamond ever mined was presented to Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi last week, weighing in at a staggering 2,492 carats. The breathtaking stone, about the size of a human fist, is the largest found in more than a century.
It’s second only to the dazzling 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905. That gem was eventually split into several large stones and dozens of smaller cuts, and incorporated into the Royal family’s Crown jewels, where they remain to this day.
“It’s overwhelming,” Masisi said during the viewing ceremony on August 22. “I am lucky to have seen it in my time.”
It’s second only to the dazzling 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond. Photo: Courtesy of CNW Group/Lucara Diamond Corp.
The dazzling discovery was recovered from central Botswana’s Karowe Mine by a team from the Lucara Diamond Corp., a Canadian mining company. The group used X-ray technology to locate the fully intact stone.
The team has been using the technology since 2017, and this discovery “not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology,” said William Lamb, President and CEO of Lucara, in a news release.
"This is history in the making."
Naseem Lahri
“The ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery and our commitment to maximizing value for our shareholders and stakeholders.” Lamb told the New York Times that his team believes “that we can eclipse the Cullinan.”
While officials told the Associated Press that it was too early to place a value on the stone, or determine exactly how it would be sold, a similar diamond was unearthed from the same mine in 2016 and went for $63 million.
“This is history in the making,” Naseem Lahri, Botswana managing director for Lucara Diamond Corp., told the Associated Press of the recent discovery. “I am very proud. It is a product of Botswana.”
Cover: Lucara miners recovered a dazzling 2,492 carat diamond from the Karowe mine in Botswana.
Photo: Courtesy of CNW Group/Lucara Diamond Corp.
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