The second-largest diamond ever has been unearthed in Botswana, a rough 2,492-carat stone was discovered at a mine owned by the Canadian firm Lucara Diamond.
Botswana is one of the world’s biggest producers of diamonds, according to the BBC, they account for about 20% of global production.
The diamond was found at Karowe mine, about 500 km north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Botswana's government said it was the largest diamond ever discovered in the southern African state.
Photo courtesy of Lucara Diamond Corp
The previous biggest discovery in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone which was found in 2019 in the same mine.
Lucara has 100% ownership over this impressive stone and has said in a statement that the stone was "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed" and that they "are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond," said Lucara head William Lamb.
We do not yet know the details of the Diamond's quality or its value.
This diamond's weight makes it the largest discovered in over a century and the second-largest ever unearthed, surpassed only by the legendary Cullinan Diamond which was unearthed in 1905 in South Africa. The Cullinan, originally 3,106 carats, was meticulously cut into several gems, some of which now adorn the British Crown Jewels.
