Discovery of 2,492-Carat Diamond in Botswana: A Historic Find
Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced the discovery of a 2,492-carat diamond in Botswana, believed to be the second-largest ever found. This monumental find utilizes advanced technology and is set to be evaluated soon. The diamond will be presented to Botswana’s President, coinciding with new legislation aimed at local investment in mining.
A substantial 2,492-carat rough diamond, believed to be the second-largest ever discovered, has been found in Botswana by Lucara Diamond Corp. This extraordinary gem is the largest unearthed since the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond was located in South Africa in 1905.
Lucara Diamond Corp. reported that this remarkable diamond was unearthed intact in its Karowe mine, utilizing advanced Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) X-ray Transmission (XRT) technology designed to identify and safeguard large, high-value diamonds. The company’s President and CEO, William Lamb, expressed excitement over this significant discovery.
Rough diamonds are categorized based on their quality into gem-quality, near-gem, or industrial-quality, determined by factors such as color, clarity, size, and shape. Prior to this find, the record for the second largest was held by the Lesedi La Rona, a 1,109-carat diamond unearthed at the same mine in 2015.
Lucara has previously discovered six of the top ten largest diamonds ever. The newly found stone will undergo a detailed evaluation in the coming weeks and is scheduled to be presented to Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
In light of this event, it is noteworthy that Botswana, the largest diamond producer by value, has recently proposed a law mandating that mining companies sell a 24% stake in mines to local investors, unless the government opts to acquire that share.
The discovery of the 2,492-carat diamond in Botswana marks a significant achievement for Lucara Diamond Corp. and contributes to the mining company’s reputation for finding large gemstones. This diamond is anticipated to undergo thorough evaluation, and its presentation to the Botswana President underscores its importance. Moreover, the proposed legislation regarding local investment in mining reflects Botswana’s commitment to benefiting its citizens from its natural resources.
Original Source: edition.cnn.com
