Massive 2,492 Carat Diamond Found in Botswana

This exceptional find by Canadian mining firm Lucara Diamond is the biggest since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was unearthed in South Africa in 1905

A colossal 2,492-carat diamond has been unearthed at Botswana’s Karowe mine, making it the second-largest diamond ever discovered. This exceptional find by Canadian mining firm Lucara Diamond is the biggest since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was unearthed in South Africa in 1905. Botswana’s government confirmed that this latest discovery is also the largest diamond ever found in the southern African nation, further cementing the country’s status as a leading diamond producer, BBC reported.

As per reports by NDTV, the massive diamond, which is yet to be named, was discovered at the Karowe mine, located approximately 500 kilometers north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. Lucara Diamond’s CEO, William Lamb, expressed elation over the recovery, noting that the discovery underscores the effectiveness of their diamond recovery process and their commitment to maximizing value for stakeholders.

“This extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond reinforces Karowe’s position as a world-class mine,” Lamb stated. The diamond was detected using Lucara’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, which has been employed since 2017 to identify and protect high-value stones from damage during ore-crushing, a report by BBC said.

Despite the monumental discovery, Lucara Diamond has not disclosed details regarding the stone’s quality or value. However, industry experts estimate the diamond could be worth over $40 million, according to the Financial Times.

Notably, this latest recovery joins an impressive roster of other significant finds from the mine, including the Sewelo diamond, which was found at the Karowe Mine in 2019, and was recognised as the second-biggest mined diamond in the world at 1,758 carats. It was bought by French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed amount, as per reports by BBC.

Reportedly, Botswana is one of the world’s top diamond producers, responsible for approximately 20% of global production. The Karowe mine has previously yielded other remarkable stones, including the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond found in 2019, which was sold to Louis Vuitton, and a 1,109-carat diamond sold to London jeweler Laurence Graff for $53 million in 2017.

Botswana’s government has proposed a law that will ask companies, once granted a license to mine, to sell a 24% stake to local firms if the government does not exercise its option of becoming a shareholder, Reuters reported.

This latest discovery further emphasizes Botswana’s growing prominence in the global diamond industry, as well as Lucara Diamond’s successful operations in the region.

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