A rough 2,492-carat diamond, the second-largest ever discovered, has been unearthed in Botswana at the Karowe mine, operated by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond.
This find marks the biggest diamond discovery since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905, which was later cut into nine separate stones, many of which are part of the British Crown Jewels.
Located about 500km (300 miles) north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, the Karowe mine has once again solidified Botswana’s status as a major player in the global diamond industry. The Botswana government has confirmed that this is the largest diamond ever discovered in the country.
The previous largest diamond discovered in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone, also found at Lucara’s Karowe mine in 2019. The Karowe mine is renowned for producing some of the world’s largest diamonds.
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In 2015, it yielded the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which was then the second-largest diamond ever discovered and eventually sold for $53 million.
Another significant find from the same mine was an 813-carat stone that set a record by fetching $63 million.
Botswana is a major player in the global diamond industry, responsible for about 20% of the world’s diamond production, solidifying its status as one of the top diamond producers globally.
