Canada's Lucara Diamond has announced the recovery of a 2,492-carat diamond from the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana - one of the largest rough diamonds ever discovered.
Although the stone's gem quality was not disclosed, the diamond’s size would make it the second largest rough diamond discovered to date, following the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond found in 1905 in South Africa.
The latest diamond discovery was made possible by the company's mega diamond recovery (MDR) X-ray transmission (XRT) technology, which has been operational since 2017.
This system is designed to detect and secure large, high-value diamonds. The diamond was extracted from the EM/PK(S) kimberlite, a primary ore source for Lucara, which is expected to be the focus of the mine's future underground operations.
Lucara president and CEO William Lamb said: “This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe mine but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology.
“This discovery reinforces Karowe's position as a truly world-class diamond mine and highlights the continued success of our operational and underground development strategy.”
In July 2024, Reuters reported that Botswana is pushing for a new law to enable locals to acquire a 24% stake from mining companies, should the government decide not to exercise its right to acquire the interest.
The move seeks to amend the current Mines and Minerals Act, which allows the government to take a 15% stake in mining projects upon licensing.
