2,492-carat diamond – one of the world's largest – found in Botswana
Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond said in a statement Wednesday that it had discovered in Botswana a diamond as large as the palm of a hand, which, in terms of carats, would make it the world's second-largest diamond.
A massive 2,492-carat diamond -- the second largest in the world -- has been discovered in Botswana, the Canadian mining company that found the stone announced Thursday.
The diamond was discovered in the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana using x-ray detection technology, Lucara Diamond Corp. said in a statement.
Lucara did not give a value for the find or mention its quality. But in terms of carats, the stone is second only to the 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905.
"We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond," Lucara president William Lamb said in the statement.
Pictures released by the company show the diamond is as large as the palm of a hand.
This find was "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed" and was detected using the company's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology installed in 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds, the statement said.
Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi viewed the massive stone later on Thursday. His government said it was the second biggest in the world.
"This discovery is largely thanks to newer technology that allows larger diamonds to be extracted from the ground without breaking into pieces. So we will likely see more where this came from," he said.
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
Read also:
Botswana's President Masisi slams 'wrong' G7 decision on diamond certification
Diamonds aren't forever: Botswana seeks to diversify its economy
