One of World's Largest Diamonds Discovered in Botswana

One of the world’s largest diamonds, weighing 2,492 carats, has been discovered in Botswana, according to a statement from Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. 

The rough gem was unearthed at the Karowe Diamond Mine, located approximately 430 kilometers (270 miles) from the capital, Gaborone.

Lucara has not yet provided an estimated value for the diamond or details about its quality. However, the find is notable for its size, closely trailing the largest gem-quality diamond ever mined, the 3,016.75-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905.

Lucara President and CEO William Lamb expressed excitement over the discovery, calling it “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed.” The diamond was detected using the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology.

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi was scheduled to view the diamond later on Thursday.

Before this discovery, the largest diamond found in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone named Sewelo, which was also mined by Lucara in 2019. Botswana remains one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds, a key source of its national income.