A 2,492-carat diamond, the second-largest ever discovered, has been unearthed in Botswana at the Karowe mine, owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond. This monumental find is the largest diamond ever recovered in Botswana, surpassing the previous record held by a 1,758-carat stone discovered at the same mine in 2019.

The diamond is the biggest since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa in 1905 and later cut into nine separate stones, many of which are now part of the British Crown Jewels.

Lucara Diamond described the newly discovered stone as "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed." William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara, expressed the company's excitement, stating, "We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond." The massive gemstone was detected using Lucara's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, which has been in use since 2017 to help identify and preserve high-value diamonds during ore-crushing processes.

While Lucara did not provide specific details about the stone's gem quality or value, sources close to the company estimate it could be worth upwards of $40 million. In comparison, the 1,758-carat diamond found in 2019 was purchased by French fashion brand Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum, and a 1,109-carat diamond unearthed at Karowe in 2016 was sold for $53 million to London jeweler Laurence Graff.

Botswana, one of the world's leading diamond producers, accounts for approximately 20% of global diamond production. The discovery of this massive diamond underscores the wealth found in Botswana’s soil and reaffirms the country’s position as a global leader in diamond production.

The Botswanan government, which has proposed new legislation requiring mining companies to sell a 24% stake in their operations to local investors if the government does not exercise its option to become a shareholder, has hailed the discovery as "precious." President Mokgweetsi Masisi is set to hold a viewing ceremony for the diamond, further highlighting its significance to the nation.

This discovery adds to the Karowe mine’s reputation for yielding some of the world's largest diamonds, including the Sewelo diamond, a 1,758-carat stone discovered in 2019, and the Lesedi La Rona, a 1,111-carat diamond found in 2015. The latter was purchased by a British jeweler for $53 million in 2017.

The world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan, was divided into several gems, including the "Great Star of Africa," which is now part of the British Crown Jewels. This latest find in Botswana is a reminder of the unparalleled natural resources that continue to be discovered in southern Africa, a region renowned for its diamond production.