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Botswana has produced the world's second largest diamond.
Canadian company Lucara Diamonds has extracted a 2,492-carat rough stone from a diamond mine in Botswana.
It is the largest diamond found since the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905.
They were cut into nine separate stones, many of which were used in the British Crown Jewels.
They discovered the diamonds at the Karowe mine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone.
The Botswana government has announced that it is the largest diamond ever discovered in the Southern African 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.
What you need to know about diamonds
In a statement, Lucara said the stone was “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed.”
“We are extremely pleased to have recovered this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond,” Lucara President William Lamb said.
We do not disclose any details about the quality or value of our gemstones.
Lucara’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology is used to detect diamonds, Oga Ram said.
According to Miningmx magazine, the organization has been using it since 2017 to detect and preserve high-value diamonds to prevent them from being destroyed during the ore-crushing process.
Lucara will acquire 100% ownership of the Karowe mine.
Reuters reported in July 2024 that the Botswana government was proposing legislation that would require companies to sell a 24 percent stake in mining licences to local companies if the government does not exercise its option to become a shareholder.
