BTN News: A monumental discovery has been made in Botswana, where a massive 2,492-carat diamond has been unearthed from the Karowe mine, located approximately 500 kilometers north of the nation’s capital, Gaborone. This breathtaking find is being celebrated as the most significant diamond discovery since the famed Cullinan diamond, a 3,106-carat stone found in South Africa in 1905. The Cullinan diamond, which was eventually cut into nine separate stones, many of which now adorn the British Crown Jewels, set a historical benchmark that this new find is poised to challenge.
Botswana, already renowned as one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds, now boasts of this remarkable gem as the largest ever discovered within its borders. The previous record in Botswana was held by a 1,758-carat diamond, also uncovered at the Karowe mine in 2019, cementing the mine’s reputation as a source of some of the planet’s most extraordinary diamonds. This latest discovery not only reinforces Botswana’s position as a key player in the global diamond industry but also underscores the advanced technological methods employed in modern diamond mining.
The diamond was recovered by Lucara Diamond, a Canadian mining company that operates the Karowe mine. Lucara has expressed tremendous excitement over the find, describing the stone as “one of the largest diamonds ever discovered.” William Lamb, the director of Lucara, highlighted the use of their innovative Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) technology, a cutting-edge system that utilizes X-ray technology to identify and recover exceptionally large diamonds without damaging them during the ore processing. This advanced technology was crucial in preserving the integrity of this 2,492-carat gem, ensuring that it was extracted in its full, awe-inspiring form.
Despite the initial excitement, Lucara has remained tight-lipped about the specific quality and potential value of the diamond. However, speculation is rife within the industry, with estimates suggesting that the diamond could be worth over $40 million. This speculation was further fueled by a report from the Financial Times, which cited anonymous sources close to Lucara hinting at the gem’s extraordinary value. While the exact worth will depend on a variety of factors including clarity, color, and potential yield after cutting, there is no doubt that this diamond is a monumental asset for Lucara and Botswana alike.
Botswana’s prominence in the global diamond market cannot be overstated. The country is responsible for approximately 20% of the world’s diamond production, a statistic that is likely to gain even more significance in light of this new discovery. The Karowe mine itself has become a focal point of diamond exploration, continuously yielding some of the largest and most valuable diamonds in recent years. This discovery not only enhances Botswana’s standing in the diamond industry but also highlights the country’s role in the broader economic landscape of precious gemstones.
As the world waits with bated breath for further details about the stone’s characteristics and ultimate fate, the discovery has already left an indelible mark on the history of diamond mining. It is a testament to the ongoing potential for significant finds in Botswana’s rich diamond fields and the technological advancements that continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in mineral extraction.
In summary, the unearthing of this 2,492-carat diamond is a landmark moment for Botswana, Lucara Diamond, and the global diamond industry as a whole. This gem not only symbolizes the rich mineral wealth that lies beneath the earth’s surface but also the ingenuity and innovation that drive modern mining efforts. As more information becomes available, the world will be watching closely, eager to see how this magnificent stone will shape the future of diamonds.
