Representative image of a rough diamond. Image credits: Wikimedia CommonsBotswana’s Karowe mine is often regarded as one of the most prolific sources of giant gem-quality diamonds, and its recent discovery of a 1,305.4-carat rough diamond has further cemented its position. The recent discovery marked the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats since operations began. According to Lucara Diamond Corp, which owns and operates the Karowe mine, the newly recovered gem was an unbroken white diamond and was detected by using Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission technology, which is designed to preserve exceptionally large diamonds during extractions.Another discovery by one of the world’s richest diamond minesAs per the company, the Karowe mine has been in commercial production since 2012 and has been consistently producing some of the largest diamonds ever discovered. As per Business Insider Africa, the latest discovery is the 10th diamond that weighs more than 1,000 carats, an achievement which is unmatched by any other diamond mine in the world so far. Lucara Diamond Corp’s president and CEO, William Lamb, shared that the discovery demonstrates both the exceptional geology of Karowe and the effectiveness of the mine’s recovery technology.Representative image of a diamond mine. Image credits: Wikimedia CommonsThe 1,305.4-carat diamond was reportedly recovered intact using the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) X-ray Transmission (XRT) circuit, a technology specifically designed to identify and recover exceptionally large diamonds. The company noted that preserving the stones in their original forms significantly improves their scientific and commercial value, as large diamonds are vulnerable to damage under conventional recovery methods.The mine continues to produce some of the world’s largest diamondsThe Karowe mine has produced several globally recognised diamonds, including the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, the 1,094-carat Seriti, the 1,080-carat Eva Star, and the 2,488-carat Motswedi, which are some of the largest gem-quality diamonds to be discovered in the world to date. Notably, alongside the recent recovery of the 1,305-carat diamond, these findings have cemented Karowe as one of the most prolific sources of diamonds in the modern mining industry. The Gemological Institute of America has noted that the diamonds of this size are extremely uncommon, as only a tiny fraction of diamonds survive the geological processes while retaining such gem qualities. Therefore, this rarity makes the discoveries above 1,000 carat at the Karowe more significant not only for the mining industry but also for gemological research and development.Business Insider Africa notes that Botswana’s economy has long been closely related to the diamond industry, with mining contributing significantly to exports and government revenue. Thus, these record-breaking discoveries, such as the recent recovery, reinforce the country’s reputation as one of the world’s leading diamond producers while highlighting the potential of the Karowe mines. Furthermore, Lucara Diamond Corp. has reported that the company is advancing the Karowe Underground Project, which is expected to extend the mine’s operational capacity well beyond the current open-pit. The expansion is reportedly designed to access deeper sections of the ore body that could contain additional high-value stones.