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The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has examined a gigantic 2,488-carat gemstone-quality rough diamond unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corp last year. | Source: GIA
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has examined a gigantic 2,488-carat gemstone-quality rough diamond unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corp last year. | Source: GIA

GIA examines second-largest diamond ever unearthed

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has examined a gigantic 2,488-carat gemstone-quality rough diamond unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corp last year.

The diamond was discovered in August 2024 at the Karowe mine in Botswana. The GIA described the diamond as consisting of several large gemstone-quality blocks with few inclusions.

Wuyi Wang, vice president of research and development, said that it is the largest known single-crystal diamond in existence and was likely formed deeper within the earth than most diamonds.

Lucara named the diamond ‘Motswedi’, which means ‘water spring’ in the national language of Botswana, Setswana. GIA executive vice president, Tom Moses, said it was a remarkable diamond to view in person.

Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president
Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president
"This is undoubtedly a diamond of great historical importance."
Tom Moses, GIA

“This is undoubtedly a diamond of great historical importance,” he said

“I have been fortunate to examine many significant, large and very rare diamonds, but I have never seen a gem-quality diamond of nearly this size.”

Motswedi is the second-largest diamond ever discovered. The mining company identified the diamond during kimberlite processing at the site using X-ray transmission technology (XRT), and it has been speculated that it may be purchased by a museum.

The Cullinan Diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905, weighs 3,106 carats and is considered the largest gemstone-quality diamond ever recovered.

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