An epic 2,492 carat diamond was unearthed in Bostwana, Lucara Diamond Corporation announced on Thursday.
Photos published alongside the announcement showed the gem’s size in proportion to a golf ball and a human hand.
This remarkable find, one of the largest rough diamonds ever found, was detected and recovered from the Karowe Diamond Mine.
Previous significant finds from the same mine have included the 1,758 carat Sewelô and the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813 carat Constellation diamonds.
“This discovery reinforces Karowe’s position as a truly world-class diamond mine and highlights the continued success of our operational and underground development strategy,” commented William Lamb, President and CEO of Lucara.
Cutting-edge mining technology delivers extraordinary results
The discovery of the astounding 2,492 carat diamond was made possible thanks to the use of the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery (“MDR”) X-ray Transmission (“XRT”) technology, installed in 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds.
“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond. This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology,” added the CEO. “The ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery and our commitment to maximizing value for our shareholders and stakeholders.”
The Karowe Diamond Mine, which means “precious stone” in the local language, was commissionned in 2012 and has since offered an abundance of unusual gems.
The fourth diamond in excess of 1,000 carats was unearthed in August 2023. Another 34 spectacular diamonds in excess of 300 carats have been recovered from the same mine, in addition to the over 7,000 in excess of 10.8 carats.
Botswana’s remarkable diamond production
A member of the Commonwealth, Botswana is the world’s biggest diamond-producing country. Mining and tourism dominate its economy.
Lucara notes that this latest discovery at the Karowe Diamond Mine symbolizes Botswana’s continued ascent as a global leader in diamond production.
“It represents not only the unparalleled wealth found in Botswana’s soil, but also the remarkable progress the nation has made in developing its diamond industry for the benefit of its citizens,” it states.
Botswana’s diamond industry delivers wide-ranging socio-economic benefits to the African country that extend well beyond the mining sector, supporting national development by funding critical areas such as education and healthcare, Lucara observes.
