The second largest diamond ever discovered, a 2,492-carat rough stone, has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine owned by Canadian company Lucara Diamonds.
It is the largest find since the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are used in the British Crown Jewels.
The diamond was discovered at the Karowe mine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone.
The Botswana government said it was the largest diamond ever found in the country.
Botswana's largest find to date was a 1,758-carat stone discovered at the same mine in 2019.
Botswana is one of the world's largest diamond producers, accounting for about 20% of global production.
In a statement, Lucara said the stone was “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed.”
“We are thrilled that this incredible 2,492 carat diamond has been recovered,” Lucara president William Lamb said.
Lam said the diamonds were detected using Lucara's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology.
The technology has been used since 2017 to identify and preserve high-value diamonds, preventing them from being destroyed during the ore-crushing process.
The company did not provide details about the stone's gem quality or value.
But the UK-based Financial Times reported that a person close to Mr Lucara, who it did not name, estimated the stone could be worth more than $40 million (£30.6 million).
The 1,758-carat stone was discovered in 2019 and purchased by French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed amount.
A 1,109-carat diamond unearthed at the same mine in 2016 was purchased by London jeweler Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, for $53 million in 2017.
Lucara holds 100% ownership of the Karowe mine.
Botswana's government has proposed legislation that would require companies with mining licences to sell a 24 percent stake to local companies if they don't exercise an option for the government to become a shareholder, Reuters reported last month.
