A new massive 2,492-carat (or 498.4-gram) diamond has been discovered at the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana, Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp has announced. This makes it the second-largest diamond ever found within the Earth, surpassed only by the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905.
Presidential inspection
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi was quick to inspect and pose with the rare gemstone at his office in the capital Gaborone. The diamond mining industry is crucial for Botswana’s economy, accounting for a significant portion of the country’s total exports.
Advanced recovery technology
Lucara announced that they utilized their state-of-the-art “Mega Diamond Recovery X-Ray Transmission” technology, implemented in 2017, to identify and recover the diamond. This system allows for the detection and careful extraction of large stones, helping to prevent unintentional damage or breakage during the mining process.
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Socioeconomic benefits
Lucara’s President William Lamb expressed the company’s elation over the recovery of this extraordinary gemstone. He stated that it not only showcases the remarkable potential of the Karowe Mine, but also upholds Lucara’s strategic investment in cutting-edge X-Ray Transmission technology. Lamb further highlighted that the ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of Lucara’s approach to diamond recovery. It also demonstrates the company’s commitment to maximizing value for its shareholders and stakeholders, he added.
Previous large discoveries
This is the third very large diamond unearthed at the Karowe mine in recent years, following the 1,758-carat “Sewelo” stone discovered in 2019 and the 1,174-carat diamond extracted in 2021, both using the same advanced X-ray technology.
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