8 ‘special’ diamonds found

Gaborone - Australian miner Lucapa Diamond Company has announced the recovery of eight large special diamonds, including a 68.1 carat gem.

The diamonds were found during trial alluvial mining operations on the Lulo Project site in Angola.

In a cautionary notice issued to shareholders this week, the ASX-listed company hailed the recoveries of the special diamonds, which are individual diamonds weighing more than 10.8 carats, as a significant development considering the limited exploration activities done so far on the Lulo Project licence area, which covers 51km of the Cacuilo River.

“The recovery of these large special diamonds from the E46 alluvial terraces is significant considering the largest individual diamond recovered from the initial exploration bulk sampling phase conducted in this area in 2013 weighed just 6.9 carats,” said Lucapa's chief executive Officer Stephen Wetherall.

He said the finds confirmed the company's belief that the Lulo Diamond Project lies at the heart of a large alluvial diamond province that has been the source of frequent special diamond recoveries of up to 404 carats.

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The company said diamond production in two alluvial mining blocks would be scaled up to 20 000 bulk cubic metres per month in April after nearly two months of disruption due to the rainy season.

Wetherall added that the immediate priority would be to start drilling at targets defined by geophysical programmes to locate the source of the exceptional alluvial diamonds being recovered.

“We look forward to the commencement of this exciting kimberlite drilling programme in April and to our ongoing alluvial diamond operations in Mining Blocks 8 and 6 throughout 2016,” Wetherall said.

Last month, the company unveiled the largest diamond ever found in Angola, a 402.2-carat gemstone which was also recovered from the Lulo Project area. The stone has since been sold for $16 million.

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY