In a moment of sheer astonishment, Botswana has become the focus of global attention.
with the discovery of a colossal 2,492-carat diamond—the second-largest ever found.
The extraordinary gemstone was unearthed in the Karowe Diamond Mine, located in northeastern Botswana, by the Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp.
Which proudly announced the find on Thursday.
This remarkable discovery, detected using advanced X-ray technology, marks a significant achievement for Lucara.
The company’s president, William Lamb, expressed overwhelming joy, stating,
“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond.”
The stone, one of the largest rough diamonds ever found, is second in size only to the famous 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond,
which was discovered in South Africa in 1905.
Lucara’s state-of-the-art Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, installed in 2017, played a crucial role in preserving this massive gem.
The technology is specifically designed to identify and protect large, high-value diamonds, ensuring that such precious stones are recovered intact.
On Thursday, Lucara Botswana’s managing director, Naseem Lahri, proudly presented the translucent diamond, about the size of a palm, to President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Bostwana diamond history
The president, visibly impressed, acknowledged the historic significance of the find, declaring,
“I’m told this is the largest diamond to be discovered in Botswana to date and the second in the world. This is precious.”
Botswana, renowned for being one of the world’s largest diamond producers.
It has seen its fortunes rise dramatically since diamonds were first discovered there in 1967.
The country, once impoverished at the time of its independence in 1966,
It now thrives as the leading diamond producer by value.
Diamonds account for 30 percent of Botswana’s GDP and 80 percent of its exports, making them the lifeblood of the nation’s economy.
President Masisi, holding the massive stone, envisioned its potential impact, saying,
“With a diamond of this magnitude, I can see roads being built.”
Despite challenges in the diamond market, he emphasized that every diamond remains valuable.
While Lucara has not yet estimated the stone’s value, reports suggest it could be worth upwards of $40 million.
