Discovery of an Exceptionally Large Diamond in Botswana

A diamond of exceptional size, weighing 2,492 carats and barely fitting in the palm of a hand, has been discovered in a mine in Botswana, the leading African diamond producer. This announcement was made by a Canadian mining company on Thursday, August 22.

This precious stone, found in the Karowe mine located in northeastern Botswana, is “one of the largest rough diamonds ever discovered,” according to a statement from the Lucara company. It is also the largest diamond ever found in this southern African country, as highlighted in a separate statement from the presidency. The exceptional diamond is set to be presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the press in Gaborone in the afternoon. According to several experts, it may also be the second-largest diamond ever found.

In terms of carats, it approaches the famous “Cullinan,” a diamond of more than 3,100 carats discovered in South Africa in 1905, which was cut into several pieces, with the largest now set in the British Crown Jewels. “We are thrilled to have recovered this extraordinary diamond,” said William Lamb, CEO of Lucara, in the statement.

A Discovery Made Possible by X-Ray Technology

Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, Europe’s largest online jeweler, described this discovery as “the most important in one hundred twenty years,” adding that this rough diamond is “the largest discovered since the ‘Cullinan.'”

This discovery is largely attributed to a recent X-ray detection technology developed by Lucara and used since 2017. This technology allows the extraction of larger gemstones without breaking them. According to experts, this could herald the discovery of other large stones in the future.

Lucara has not yet disclosed the value or quality of this discovery, but a presentation to the press is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Gaborone. The diamond will also be presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Botswana, one of the world’s largest diamond producers, heavily relies on this resource for its revenues, which fund essential sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure.

Before this discovery, the largest diamond found in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone, also extracted by Lucara in 2019 and named “Sewelo.”