Just a couple of days ago, the world’s second largest diamond – created in Earth’s core – was discovered in Botswana. The largest diamond was unearthed by miners more than 100 years ago – in 1905. The newly mined diamond, weighing just about a pound, was a 2,492-carat stone. It was discovered by Lucara Diamond Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, which owns the mine in Botswana.
Mined about 300 miles north of the capital of Botswana in the Karowe mine, which has produced other large rough stones of significance (including the 813-carat Constellation diamond), the rough stone plays second only to the famed 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond that was mined in South Africa in 1905.
The Cullinan diamond — named after Thomas Cullinan, chairman of the mining company that found it — was a sensation when it was discovered. The stunning blue-white stone, with incredible clarity, was later cut into multiple stones – a feat that took more than eight months. Those stones were all assigned a number and several were eventually put into the British Crown Jewels. In fact, the Cullinan I and II were set into the Sovereign Scepter and the Imperial State Crown in 1910 and remain so today.
The diamond was discovered by Lucara using advanced high technology X-ray devices that have recently been employed by diamond miners. That technology, Mega Diamond Recovery (“MDR”) X-ray Transmission (“XRT”) technology, along with a new grinding process that is designed to more easily separate diamonds from rock slabs, has propelled Lucara to the top of the list when it comes to finding big stones.
According to an article in the New York Times, in 2015, Lucara unearthed a 1,109-carat diamond, and in 2019, it found a 1,758-carat black diamond.
Both of those stones were magnificently cut into multiple diamonds and sold to a luxury brand for inclusion in its exquisite jewelry. It is expected that this newest diamond could have the same fate. It is also estimated that it could sell for tens of millions of dollars.
The diamond, which has not yet been named, was presented first to the world from the office of President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi.
In a press release issued by Lucara, William Lamb, President and CEO, said “We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond. This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology. The ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery and our commitment to maximizing value for our shareholders and stakeholders.”