Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced the recovery of an unbroken 549 carat white diamond of exceptional purity from its 100% owned Karowe Diamond Mine located in Botswana. The stone is the fourth largest ever recovered from the mine and the second large, high-quality diamond already recovered this year, the Company said.

The 549 carat diamond was recovered from direct milling of ore sourced from the EM/PK(S) unit of the South Lobe, from where a gem quality 176 carat stone was recently recovered, Lucara reported.

The Company added that it will take a decision on the sale of the 176 and 549 carat diamonds in due course.

“The EM/PK(S) continues to produce large gem quality diamonds in line with expectations and forms an important economic driver for the potential underground mine at Karowe. It has also delivered other high value diamonds including the 1,758 carat Sewelô, the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona, and the 813 carat Constellation diamond,” according to the company statement.

Significantly, the 549 carat diamond is the first large stone to be recovered in the MDR (Mega Diamond Recovery) XRT circuit that allows for diamond recovery post primary crushing and prior to milling, and the second diamond recovered from the system which was commissioned in 2017. Year to date in 2020 Karowe has produced 6 diamonds greater than 100 carats.

Eira Thomas, Lucara's CEO commented: "Lucara is extremely pleased to be starting off 2020 with the recovery of two, large, high quality diamonds that builds on the positive momentum generated following the completion of a strong 4th quarter sale in December and the announcement of our ground breaking partnership with Louis Vuitton on the Sewelô in January. The unbroken 549 carat diamond is the fourth largest diamond recovered at Karowe and the first large gem to be recovered through the MDR. We look forward to continued success at Karowe and an exciting 2020."

Pic caption: The 549 carat rough diamond recovered by Lucara at Karowe

Pic courtesy: Lucara Diamond Corp