The second-largest diamond ever discovered, a rough 2,492-carat stone, was discovered in Botswana at a mine operated by Canadian company Lucara Diamond. It is the largest find since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905
The diamond was discovered at the Karowe mine, approximately 500 kilometres (300 miles) north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
Botswana’s government claimed it was the country’s largest diamond discovery. The previous largest discovery in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone found at the same mine in 2019. Botswana is one of the world’s largest diamond producers, accounting for approximately 20% of total production.
Lucara described the stone as “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed” in a statement. “We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond,” Lucara CEO William Lamb stated.
According to Mr Lamb, the diamond was identified using Lucara’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology.
It has been used since 2017 to locate and conserve high-value diamonds, preventing them from breaking during ore crushing procedures.
The corporation did not specify the stone’s gem quality or worth.
However, the UK-based Financial Times newspaper said that persons close to Lucara, who were not named, thought that the stone was worth up to $40 million (£30.6 million). The 1,758-carat stone discovered in 2019 was purchased by the French luxury house Louis Vuitton for an unknown fee.
A 1,109 carat diamond discovered at the same mine in 2016 was purchased for $53 million by London jeweller Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, in 2017.
The Karowe mine is 100% owned by Canada’s Lucara Diamonds.
Botswana’s government has proposed legislation that would require corporations awarded mining licenses to sell a 24% stake to local firms if the government does not exercise its option to become a shareholder, according to Reuters news agency last month.
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