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GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — A remarkable discovery has been made at a mine in Botswana: the largest diamond found in over a century. During a viewing ceremony on Thursday, the country’s president showcased this extraordinary fist-sized gem to the world.

The Botswana government reports that this massive diamond, weighing 2,492 carats, is the second-largest ever extracted from a mine. It is also the biggest diamond discovered since 1905.

The diamond, which has not yet been given a name, was unveiled at the office of President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Weighing about half a kilogram, Masisi was among the first individuals to hold the dazzling stone.

“It is overwhelming,” Masisi expressed. “I feel fortunate to witness this in my lifetime.” He gasped in awe and called senior officials to join him for a closer look.

Officials mentioned that it is too soon to determine the diamond’s value or the method of its sale. In 2016, a smaller diamond from the same Botswana mine was sold for $63 million, setting a record for a rough diamond.

“This is a momentous occasion in history,” stated Naseem Lahri, the managing director of Lucara Diamond Corp., the Canadian company that discovered the diamond. “I take immense pride in this achievement, as it showcases Botswana’s natural wealth.”

Lucara announced on Wednesday that the “exceptional” rough diamond was recovered from its Karowe Mine in central Botswana. The company highlighted that this high-quality stone was found intact, using advanced X-ray technology specifically designed to locate large, valuable diamonds.

“We are thrilled about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond,” declared Lucara President and CEO William Lamb in an official statement.

This diamond’s weight makes it the largest found in 119 years and the second-largest ever mined, following the famous Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106 carats and was ultimately cut into several gems, many of which are part of the British Crown Jewels.

Although a larger black diamond was discovered in Brazil in the late 1800s, it was found on the surface and is believed to have originated from a meteorite.

Botswana, which has a population of 2.6 million, is the world’s second-largest producer of natural diamonds, just behind Russia. The country has been the source of many of the largest diamonds discovered in recent years. Notably, the Karowe Mine has produced four other diamonds weighing over 1,000 carats in the past decade.

Before this latest find, the Sewelo diamond, discovered in 2019 at the same mine, was recognized as the second-largest mined diamond globally, weighing 1,758 carats. It was purchased by the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum.

Additionally, the Lesedi La Rona diamond, weighing 1,111 carats and also from the Karowe Mine, was sold to a British jeweler for $53 million in 2017. Another diamond from the same mine, known as The Constellation, fetched a record-breaking $63 million.

Diamonds are formed deep underground under immense pressure, where carbon atoms are compressed together. Scientists estimate that most diamonds are at least a billion years old, with some even exceeding 3 billion years in age.

Learn More About African Diamonds

For more information on Africa’s diamond industry, visit: AP Africa news.