A massive diamond weighing 2,492 carats has been discovered in Botswana, making it the largest diamond found in over a century.
This rough diamond was unearthed at the Karowe mine, about 500 kilometres north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. The mine is owned by the Canadian company Lucara Diamond, and the find is the second-largest diamond ever discovered.
The only diamond larger than this one was the Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa in 1905 and weighed 3,106 carats. Many pieces of the Cullinan diamond were cut and are now part of the British Crown Jewels.
Botswana’s government has announced that this is the largest diamond ever found in the country, which is known for being one of the world’s top diamond producers. The diamond was detected using special X-ray technology designed to find and preserve large stones during mining. While the quality and value of the diamond have not yet been disclosed, some experts estimate it could be worth more than $40 million.
