A monumental discovery has emerged from Botswana, where a colossal 2,492-carat diamond has been unearthed at the Karowe Diamond Mine.
This remarkable gem is now recognized as the second-largest diamond ever found in a mine, trailing only the legendary 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905.
Lucara Diamond Corp., a Canadian mining company, announced the find. Moreover, the company used advanced Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology installed in 2017.
This innovative technology detects and preserves large, high-value diamonds, allowing for the recovery of such extraordinary stones without breaking them apart.
Lucara’s President, William Lamb, expressed excitement, stating,
In addition, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi showcased the diamond during a presentation. He described the experience as “overwhelming” and emphasized the significance of this discovery for Botswana.
Notably, diamond mining accounts for about 30% of Botswana’s GDP and 80% of its exports. Before this discovery, the largest diamond found in Botswana was the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond, also from the Karowe mine, discovered in 2019.
This find comes at a crucial time for Botswana’s diamond industry. Specifically, the industry has faced challenges due to the rise of lab-grown diamonds and changing market dynamics.
Experts believe this significant discovery could help rejuvenate the natural diamond mining sector, attracting attention and investment.
Consequently, the diamond will undergo thorough evaluation to assess its quality and determine the best selling strategy. In 2016, a smaller diamond from the same mine fetched a record price of $63 million.
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