One of the largest diamonds in history, weighing 998 carats, was discovered in Botswana.

Canadian diamond mining company Lucara Diamond announced the discovery of one of the largest diamonds in modern history, weighing 988 carats, in a Botswana mine.

The rough diamond was discovered at the Karoy diamond mine, owned and operated by Lucara Diamond, a mining company that specializes in the extraction of large diamonds. It could be the fourth of the five highest quality diamonds ever discovered.

The diamond, which measures 67 x 49 x 45 mm, was mined in the process of direct ore grinding from an area in an open pit mine that recently led to the discovery of a group of diamonds of 273, 105, 83, 73 and 69 carats.

Lucara announced the new discovery on the night of Tuesday, November 10.

Both Ira Thomas and Kathryn MacLeod Seltzer, who founded the Lucara Diamond company, invested in unproven equipment and technology for the Karoy mine specially designed to uncover exceptionally large diamonds.

The 998 carat diamond represents the second diamond weighing more than 500 carats to be mined in 2020. These two are among the 31 diamonds that weigh more than 100 carats, along with 10 of those diamonds that weigh more than 200. carats, produced by the mine. This year.

The two largest groups are “Sithonia”, which weighs 549 carats, and the most recent find weighs 998 carats, which has yet to be named.

Lucara Diamond is working with HB Antwerp, the premium diamond cutting and polishing specialist, to evaluate the next steps to maximize the value of rare large stones.

Source: Forbes