Miners find largest diamond of the century
Miners in Botswana have discovered the largest diamond unearthed in the last 100 years, it has been announced. The Canadian mining firm Lucara was behind the operation; according to the company, the diamond is a 1,111 carat stone, and was discovered in a consistently fruitful central northern mine in Botswana. The previous largest discovery was rated at 603 carat.
According to a statement from Lucara, the discovery is a Type IIa gem-quality diamond unobjectionably magnificent and ultimately discovered in a "modern processing facility." According to the mining firm, it was uncovered with one of the company's Large Diamond Recovery — aka, LDR — XRT machines.
In addition to being the largest diamond found in the last century, it is the largest gem-quality stone to be found ever, as well as the biggest unearthed using a modern processing center. Its total size is a hefty 65mm x 56mm x 40mm, and a record for mining in Botswana, as well.
Said Lucara's CEO, "This historic diamond recovery puts Lucara and the Karowe mine amongst a select number of truly exceptional diamond producers. The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century and the continued recovery of high quality stones from the south lobe, cannot be overstated."