World's second largest diamond, valued at over $40 million, unearthed in Botswana

A colossal 2,492-carat rough diamond has been unearthed in Botswana, making it the second-largest diamond ever found in history. This astonishing find was made at the Karowe mine, located approximately 500 km north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, and is owned by Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond.

This discovery surpasses all other finds in Botswana and is only dwarfed by the legendary 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905. The Cullinan diamond, famously cut into nine separate stones, is a central feature of the British Crown Jewels, including the Great Star of Africa, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world.

The diamond, described by the company as "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed," was detected using the firm’s advanced Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, BBC reported. This technology, implemented in 2017, ensures the preservation of high-value diamonds by preventing them from breaking during ore-crushing processes.

Botswana is one of the world's largest producers of diamonds, which constitute its main source of income, representing 30% of GDP and 80% of its exports. The previous largest diamond found in the country was a 1,758-carat stone discovered at the same Karowe mine in 2019. That stone was eventually acquired by French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, though the purchase price was not disclosed.