One of the largest diamonds ever discovered—a rough 2,492-carat stone—has been unearthed in Botswana, the Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. announced on Thursday.
The diamond was discovered at the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana, approximately 430 kilometers (270 miles) from the capital, Gaborone, according to the company’s statement.
Lucara did not disclose the stone’s value or assess its quality.
In terms of carats, this discovery is close in size to the largest gem-quality diamond ever mined: the 3,016.75-carat Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905.
“We are thrilled with the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond,” said Lucara’s president and CEO, William Lamb, in the statement.
The find, described as “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed,” was detected using the company’s advanced Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, the statement added.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi was scheduled to view the massive stone later on Thursday.
Botswana is one of the world’s leading diamond producers, with diamonds serving as the country’s primary source of income.
Before this latest discovery, the largest diamond recovered in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone mined by Lucara in 2019, named Sewelo.
