The largest diamond found in 119 years – more than a century – has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana.
The huge diamond, which was found using X-ray technology at the Karowe Mine in central Botswana, is 2,492 carats and weighs about half a kilogram.
It is the second biggest ever discovered in a mine, and the biggest diamond found since 1905 ((after the Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa), the Botswana government said.
The 2,492-carat stone was presented at viewing ceremony to the country’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday, AP reported.
“It is overwhelming. I am lucky to have seen it in my time,” Masisi said, as he called senior government officials to take a closer look.
“This is history in the making. I am very proud. It is a product of Botswana,” said Naseem Lahri, Botswana managing director for Lucara Diamond Corp., the Canadian mining company that found the diamond.
Although officials said it was too early to value the stone or decide how it would be sold, a smaller diamond found at the same mine in Botswana was reportedly sold for $63 million in 2016, a record for a rough gem.
Botswana is regarded as the second-biggest producer of diamonds behind Russia.
