A 1,111-carat diamond has been discovered in a mine in southern Africa. According to the mining company, the gem is the largest find in more than a century, and the second largestdiscoveredin the world so far.
It was recovered in the Karowe mine, 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. It was unearthed by theLucara Diamond Corporation, whichalso dug up two further whoppers: an 813-carat stone and a 374-carat stone.
The diamond measures 6.5by5.6by4 centimeters (2.5 by 2.2 by 1.6 inches).It’s a Type IIadiamond: Theseare made almost completely of pure carbon, which makes them clear in color. While obviously incredibly valuable, it was impossible to price after the discovery: The stone couldn’t be inspected on site as it was larger than the scanner available.The price of a diamond depєɴԀs on cutting, optimal shape, final color, and the presence of imperfections.
The largest diamond ever found is theCullinan diamond. It was originally 3,106 carats and was cut into nine distinct stones, belonging to the British Royal family.
Botswanais the world’s second biggest diamond producer in term of volume and the first in terms of value. Since the 1990s, the mining of diamonds hasguaranteed prosperity to the country, which has experienced a significanteconomic growth.
