A 1,111 carat diamond has been recovered in Botswana by the mining company Lucara. It is the largest diamond, discovered in more than a century and second in size only to the diamond that was used to make the British crown jewels, Joinfo.ua reports with the reference to the Daily Mail.
Roughly the size of a small orange, the 1,111 carat diamond is the largest gem quality stone to be found since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was uncovered in South Africa in 1905.
The Lucara Diamond company also revealed this week that this colossal diamond may not be a one off after the mine discovered a 813-carat stone and a 374-carat diamond.
The stone measures 65mm x 56mm x 40mm in size and is the largest ever to be recovered in Botswana.
“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,”
Lucara CEO William Lamb said in a release.
Originating from the south lobe of Lucara’s Karowe Mine, the diamond is the largest ever to be recovered through a modern processing facility.
It is classed as type two quality which means it is devoid of impurities. However its exact color and clarity is being assessed.