If diamonds are girl’s best friend, this one is her BBF!
The second-largest gem-quality diamond known to man has been discovered in Botswana ,Vancouver Lucara Diamond Corporation announced last month.
Unearthed in the south lobe of the company’s Karowe Mine, the, 1,111- carat diamond measures 2.5 inches by 2.2 inches. It is reportedly the largest diamond ever recovered in Botswana.
“The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century and the continued recovery of high quality stones from the south lobe cannot be overstated,” Lucara President and CEO William Lamb remarked in a news release.
“Our focus on mining the south lobe, which is delivering value beyond expectation, has been perfectly timed with the commissioning of our recent plant modifications, enabling the recovery of these large, high quality exceptional diamonds.”
The 3,106.75 –carat Cullinan Diamond, recovered from South Africa in 1905, is widely considered to be the world’s largest gem-quality diamond. Its value is estimated around $400 million USD. In 1895, the 3,167- carat Sergio diamond was uncovered, the world’s largest rough diamond.