In a remarkable discovery, miners in Botswana have found a 37.41-carat diamond that displays a rare combination of pink and colorless hues — a gem experts describe as both unique and scientifically significant. The find was confirmed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which called it “astounding” for its size, clarity, and unusual two-tone appearance.
The diamond, roughly the size of a small grape, measures about 24.3 millimeters long and shows a clean split between a vivid pink section and a clear, colorless zone. Researchers believe this unusual coloring suggests the diamond formed in two separate stages deep beneath the Earth’s surface.
A two-tone pink diamond born from Earth’s changing forces found in Botswana
According to scientists at the GIA, the gemstone’s dual colors tell a story of complex geological events. They believe the pink section likely formed first, possibly as a colorless crystal that later turned pink due to intense underground pressure. Over time, stress within the Earth’s crust likely bent the diamond’s inner structure just enough to change how it reflects light, creating the pink color. This kind of change is extremely rare in nature.
The clear portion of the diamond appears to have formed later under more stable conditions, which kept it colorless. This kind of two-stage formation process is unusual and provides a rare glimpse into how Earth’s inner forces shape these precious stones.
Sally Eaton-Magaña, a senior scientist at GIA, explained that the color change in diamonds happens when their atomic structure is slightly disturbed. In this case, the deformation was just right — strong enough to turn part of the diamond pink, but not so extreme that it became brown, which is more common in similarly stressed stones.
Botswana, a global leader in gem discoveries
The diamond was unearthed at Botswana’s Karowe mine, a site known for yielding some of the world’s largest and most valuable diamonds. The mine, operated by Lucara Diamond Corporation, has produced several historic finds in recent years, including a massive 2,488-carat stone and a 62-carat pink diamond.
While smaller diamonds showing both pink and colorless zones have been discovered before, most weigh under two carats. This new find, at over 37 carats, is notable not only for its size but also for the clear division between the two colors, making it one of the most distinct diamonds of its kind ever recorded.
Botswana continues to stand out in the global diamond industry, with discoveries like this showcasing the country’s rich natural resources and the incredible geological forces that create such rare and beautiful gems.