Botswana has long been renowned for its extraordinary diamond discoveries, consistently unearthing some of the world’s most exceptional gems. The recent discovery of a colossal 2,492-carat diamond further defines Botswana’s status as a global leader in the diamond industry. Botswana’s diamond mining journey dates back to pre-historic times, but modern exploration began in earnest in the mid-20th century.
The country’s first significant discovery occurred in 1967, a year after its independence, with the unearthing of the Orapa kimberlite field. Watch : This discovery marked the beginning of a diamond boom in Botswana, leading to the establishment of major mines such as Letlhakane (1968), Jwaneng (1973), Gope (1981), and Lerala (1991). Since then, Botswana has become the second-largest producer of natural diamonds globally, trailing only Russia.
The country has produced 665 million carats of diamonds since 1971, representing 14 per cent of the world’s total diamond production. Notably, Botswana’s diamond reserves are still far from depleted, with the potential to increase its global share as other producers’ resources dwindle. The recent discovery In a remarkable find, Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp.
unearthed a staggering 2,492-carat diamond at the Karowe Mine in Botswana. This diamond, the largest found in more than a century, is the second-largest ever discovered, following only the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond unearthed in South Africa in 1905. Th.