The Type IIa stone was unearthed from the mine’s South Lobe and has been named Boitumelo, which means “joy” in the Setswana language.
Several other large pink diamonds were recovered from Karowe during the same production period – a 22.21 carat, 11.17 carat, and 5.05-carat stone. Worldwide, it is extremely rare to find pink diamonds above one carat.
In June, Lucara announced the recovery of a white diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats from Karowe – one of five stones of more than 300 carats and 17 greater than 100 carats unearthed over the life of the mine.
The company recently announced plans for a five-year, $US514 million expansion project at Karowe, with Eira Thomas, CEO Lucara, saying, “Lucara is delighted to announce another historic diamond with the recovery of the Boitumelo, and very pleased to demonstrate the continued potential for large, coloured diamonds from the South Lobe production.
“These remarkable pink diamonds join a collection of significant diamond recoveries in 2021… which forms a key economic driver for the proposed underground mine at Karowe.”
According to Mining.com, Karowe is one of the highest-margin diamond mines in the world, producing an average of 300,000 high-value carats each year.
Exceptional blue diamond finds buyer
De Beers Group and diamond manufacturing firm Diacore have announced the joint-purchase of a 39.34-carat fancy blue stone, recovered from South Africa’s Cullinan Mine.
The diamond was mined by Cullinan operator Petra Diamonds and sold for $US40.17 million ($AU54 million), split equally between the two buyers.
Paul Rowley, executive vice-president – diamond trading, De Beers Group, said, “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with such a miracle of nature and a delight to see the legendary Cullinan deposit producing yet another breathtakingly beautiful gemstone.
“It’s great to be working again with Diacore on this diamond, given their outstanding history of releasing the true beauty of exceptional finds such as this.”
Nir Livnat, chairman, Diacore, added, “We’re excited and humbled to have the opportunity of designing and shaping one of the most special and rare blue diamonds of such size and colour.
“Joining forces with De Beers specialists alongside our master cutters will enable us to create a world-class masterpiece.”
De Beers Group and Diacore previously purchased five blue Cullinan diamonds in November 2020.
The Cullinan Mine is best known for producing the largest diamond ever unearthed – the 3,106.75-carat Cullinan Diamond – which was unearthed in 1905 and later cut into a suite and incorporated into the British Crown Jewels.
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Historic sale of blue and pink diamonds
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