The world's second largest diamond was discovered, details dazzled the international online community

A 2,492-carat rough stone has been unearthed in Botswana using specialist X-ray technology. The diamond was discovered by Canadian mining company Lucara and is the largest diamond to be discovered in 120 years since the world-famous Cullinan diamond was discovered. The 3,106-carat Cullinan was found in neighbouring South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are now part of the British crown jewels.

It is not known whether this latest diamond discovery will yield the most valuable gemstone yet, but the stone's enormous size means it could be worth tens of millions of dollars.

Close-up of the world's second largest diamond discovered.

"We are extremely pleased to announce the discovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond," said William Lamb, chairman of Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp., in a statement on August 22.

'The ability to recover such a large, high-value stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our diamond recovery methods,' said Lucara CEO William Lamb in a statement after the discovery. Mr Lamb said the company was delighted with the gem, which was recovered using X-ray technology first installed in 2017.

“We are excited to have recovered this 2,492-carat diamond. This discovery not only demonstrates the exceptional potential of the Karowe mine, but also reinforces our strategic investment in advanced XRT technology,” said William Lamb, Lucara’s president and CEO. “The ability to excavate such a large, high-value stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond mining.”

The excavated diamond made netizens around the world admire and dazzle.

CTY’s Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) X-ray transmission technology (XRT) is used to detect and recover intact diamonds. Installed in 2017, the technology is designed to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds. The stone was extracted during the processing of EM/PK(S) kimberlite, a special type of rock that is rich in diamonds. The mine is rich in EM/PK(S) kimberlite, which is why Lucara’s primary goal is to mine diamonds. In 2019, the 1,758-carat Sewelô diamond was also found at the Karowe mine. Another major discovery from the mine was the 1,111-carat Lesedi diamond.

According to the BBC, Botswana is the second largest producer of diamonds in the world, accounting for about 20% of total production. In recent years, many of the largest diamonds have been discovered here. The diamond industry is a driving force for Botswana's economic growth and development, providing funding for many important areas such as education and health care.

The machine is designed to identify and preserve large, valuable diamonds by extracting them from the ground without breaking them. The photos show the massive rough diamond sitting in the palm of your hand, its size further illustrated by the fact that it is larger than a golf ball.

The stone was found at the Karowe mine, located about 300 miles north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Two other giant diamonds have been found at the mine in recent years - the 1,758-carat Sewelo and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona. In 2017, British diamond tycoon Laurence Graff paid $53 million (more than £40 million) for the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona. Two years later, in 2019, Louis Vuitton paid an undisclosed sum for the 1,758-carat Sewelo.

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi personally inspected and assessed the giant diamond and in a statement later the government said it was the second largest diamond ever found in the world and the largest ever unearthed in the African country.

Photos released by the company show the diamond is as big as the palm of your hand. The diamond has not yet been evaluated in detail and it is unclear whether it can be cut into the most valuable gemstones.

Botswana is one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds, a major source of revenue for the country. The find comes amid slowing diamond sales and prices falling to a four-year low, according to the Diamond Standard Index. The industry had done well during the pandemic, as wealthy consumers who couldn’t afford travel and entertainment splurged on luxury items. But demand has since fallen and the market has become saturated, including with the rise of synthetic stones.

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