[:en]NEWS DESK
The largest diamond found in more than a century is unearthed at a mine in Botswana, and the country’s president showcased the fist-sized stone to the world at a ceremony Thursday.
The Botswana government said the huge 2,492-carat diamond was the second-biggest ever discovered in a mine. It is the biggest diamond found since 1905.
The as-yet-unnamed diamond was presented to the world at the office of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. It weighs nearly half a kilogram and Masisi was one of the first to get to hold it.
“It is overwhelming,” Masisi said. “I am lucky to have seen it in my time.” He gasped and said “wow” before calling senior government officials over to take a closer look.
Officials say it is too early to value the stone or decide how it will be sold. Another smaller diamond from the same mine in Botswana was sold for $63 million in 2016, a record for a rough gem.[:]