An exceptionally large and white 1,174 carat diamond stone has been unearthed in Botswana, trumping another huge precious stone that was found in the African country in June.
The latest find, which fills the palm of a large hand, was also discovered in June, on the 12th. It was found by the Canadian Diamond firm Lucara and presented to the country’s cabinet in Gaborone on Wednesday.
“This is history in the making, for us and Botswana as well,” said the company’s managing director, Naseem Lahri, adding that the diamond was in third position among the world’s largest gemstones.
On 1 June the Botswanan diamond firm Debswana said it had recovered what was then the “third largest” stone in the world, weighing in at 1,098 carats.
Botswana leads the world for the largest precious stones, accounting for six in the top 10 list. The country is Africa’s leading diamond producer.
The biggest diamond ever discovered anywhere was the 3,106 carat Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905. Parts of that diamond adorn the British crown jewels.
Mokgweetsi Masisi, the president of Botswana, on Wednesday welcomed the “riveting moment” and the frequency of diamond discoveries in his country.
Source: DCLA
