Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp has announced the discovery of a massive 2,492-carat diamond in Botswana’s Karowe Diamond Mine, making it the second largest diamond in the world after the legendary 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa in 1905. The diamond was unearthed using X-ray technology, and pictures released by the company show that it is as large as the palm of a hand.
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi inspected the diamond and confirmed it as the second largest in the world. This find was made possible by Lucara’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, installed in 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds. Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe’s largest online diamond jeweler, noted that advancements in technology have enabled the extraction of larger diamonds without breaking them into pieces, suggesting that more significant discoveries could follow.
Botswana is one of the world’s leading diamond producers, with diamonds accounting for a significant portion of its GDP and exports. The country recently proposed a law requiring mining companies to sell a 24% stake in mines to local investors or the government. Lucara had previously discovered a 1,758-carat diamond named Sewelo in 2019 and a 1,174-carat diamond in 2021 using the same X-ray technology. This latest find underscores Botswana’s reputation as a significant player in the global diamond industry.
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