Lucara unearths second largest diamond in history at Botswana mine

ZIMSPHERE 

GABORONE – Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. has discovered the second-largest diamond ever found, a 2,492-carat gem, at its Karowe mine in Botswana. This remarkable find, the largest in over a century, was revealed during a viewing ceremony attended by Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi in the capital Gaborone.

The world's second biggest diamond that was discovered in Botswana by Canada's Lucara. [Image: AP Photo]

 

The newly discovered diamond, yet to be named, is the most significant since the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond unearthed in South Africa in 1905, which now forms part of the British crown jewels after it was polished and cut. 

Lucara has not disclosed the gem's quality but described it as "exceptional" and "high-quality."

During the presentation, President Masisi expressed his awe, stating, "I am lucky to have seen it in my time," while inviting senior officials to view the stone. 

Naseem Lahri, Lucara’s managing director in Botswana, remarked, "This is history in the making. I am very proud. It is a product of Botswana."

Lucara reported that the diamond was recovered intact using advanced X-ray technology designed to detect large, high-value stones. The Karowe Mine has a reputation for producing sizable gems—with four stones over 1,000 carats found in the past decade. This includes the 1,758-carat Sewelô and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona.

Notably, the Lesedi La Rona was sold for $53 million, and The Constellation set a record at $63 million.

Botswana, with a population of 2.6 million, ranks as the world's second-largest producer of natural diamonds, trailing only Russia. 

The country's diamond industry plays a crucial role in its economy, contributing about 80% of export earnings and approximately 30% of GDP. 

Despite this, some critics argue that the benefits have not fully reached ordinary citizens, as profits often return to foreign multinationals, which invest millions of dollars to explore and extract the gems. 

(with news agencies)