Historic Diamond Discovery in Botswana: World’s Second-Largest Unearthed

A monumental discovery has been made in Botswana, where a rough 2,492-carat diamond, the second-largest ever found, was unearthed at the Karowe mine, owned by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond. This incredible find marks the biggest diamond discovery since the famous 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was unearthed in South Africa in 1905 and later cut into multiple stones, many of which now reside in the British Crown Jewels.

The diamond, discovered approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, is now the largest ever found in the southern African nation. Previously, the record for Botswana was held by a 1,758-carat stone, also uncovered at the Karowe mine in 2019.

Botswana is a major player in the global diamond industry, responsible for about 20% of the world’s production. In a statement, Lucara described the stone as “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed,” with Lucara CEO William Lamb expressing the company’s excitement over the extraordinary find. The diamond was identified using Lucara’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, which has been employed since 2017 to detect and preserve high-value diamonds during ore processing.

While details about the gem quality and value of the diamond have not been disclosed, estimates suggest it could be worth more than $40 million (£30.6 million). In comparison, the 1,758-carat diamond found in 2019 was purchased by French fashion brand Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed amount, and a 1,109-carat diamond discovered in 2016 was sold for $53 million to London jeweler Laurence Graff.

Lucara Diamond holds full ownership of the Karowe mine, where this latest discovery was made. The Botswana government, which continues to play a significant role in the country’s diamond industry, has recently proposed legislation requiring companies granted mining licenses to offer a 24% stake to local firms if the government chooses not to become a shareholder, according to a report by Reuters.

This discovery not only reinforces Botswana’s position as a leader in diamond production but also highlights the ongoing importance of the Karowe mine as a source of some of the world’s most remarkable diamonds.