A Canadian company- Lucara Diamond, found the huge 2,492-carat stone in the Karowe mine. They had deployed X-ray technology in their search. Gemstones like this mostly surface as a result of volcanic activity.
Since the ‘Cullinan’, this diamond has been the biggest reported in over a century. The ‘Cullinan’ was cut into gems, some of which form part of the British Crown Jewels.
The stone weighs about a pound and will go into display in Botswana this week. Its discovery will help fund critical medical and educational programs in the region. “We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat piece,” said William Lamb, President of Lucara to Good News Network.
Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer. In the past few years, the country has partnered with the industry to meet rigorous environmental standards and maximize the positive impact it can generate on local communities.
This discovery can lead to bringing back the shine and attention to natural diamonds according to experts.
Thanks to technology such stones are no longer a once-in-a-lifetime find anymore. The emergence of lab-grown diamonds will do exactly that. Lucara
spotted an opportunity in Botswana when it dug up large quantities of small but coarse stones that looked like “chewed glass,” said William Lamb, the company’s chief executive.