The second-largest diamond ever discovered – a tough 2,492-carat stone – has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine owned by Canadian agency Lucara Diamond.
It’s the greatest discover for the reason that 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, present in South Africa in 1905 and minimize into 9 separate stones, lots of that are within the British Crown Jewels.
The diamond was discovered at Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
Botswana’s authorities stated it was the most important diamond ever found within the southern African state.
The earlier greatest discovery in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone discovered on the identical mine in 2019.
Botswana is without doubt one of the world’s greatest producer of diamonds, accounting for about 20% of worldwide manufacturing.
In an announcement, Lucara stated the stone was “one of many largest tough diamonds ever unearthed”.
“We’re ecstatic concerning the restoration of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond,” stated Lucara head William Lamb.
The diamond was detected with using Lucara’s Mega Diamond Restoration X-ray expertise, stated Mr Lamb.
It has been used since 2017 to determine and protect high-value diamonds in order that they don’t break throughout ore-crushing processes.
The agency didn’t give particulars of the stone’s gem high quality or its worth.
The 1,758-carat stone present in 2019 was purchased by French trend model Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum.
A 1,109 carat diamond, unearthed on the identical mine in 2016, was purchased for $53m (£39.5m) by London jeweller Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, in 2017.
Lucara has 100% possession of the mine in Karowe.
Botswana’s authorities has proposed a regulation that can ask firms, as soon as granted a license to mine, to promote a 24% stake to native companies if the federal government doesn’t train its possibility of changing into a shareholder, Reuters information company reported final month.