Lucapa Diamond Company Limited has launched its next exploration phase to locate the kimberlite source of the high-value alluvial diamonds at the Lulo project in Angola.

“The next 12-month program is based on an extensive technical review of Lulo kimberlite exploration results to date, including those of the extensive 2018 drilling program which confirmed a further 70 kimberlites within the Lulo alluvial diamond field, which increased the total known kimberlites within the concession to more than 100,” the Company said.

So far the Lulo mine has proved to be, according to the Company, “the world’s highest-value alluvial diamond field, producing diamond sales of US$ 146 million to date at an average price per carat of >US$ 2,000”.

Moreover, Lulo has produced 13 +100 carat alluvial diamonds, including Angola’s two biggest recorded diamonds weighing 404 carats and 227 carats respectively.

Key features of the next phase, Lucapa says, include:

• An extensive stream bulk sampling program focusing on six major tributaries feeding from high-interest areas into the Cacuilo River upstream of Mining Blocks 8 and 6, where some of the largest and most valuable alluvial diamonds have been recovered at Lulo
• Follow-up delineation drilling of 16 Lulo kimberlite pipes rated most prospective to host diamonds. This drilling will help define the structure and surface area of each pipe, including surface volcaniclastic kimberlite material for later bulk sampling
• Drilling eight additional kimberlite targets, including anomalies highlighted in the technical review demonstrating reversely polarised magnetic signatures

Budgeted at US$ 3.3 million the new kimberlite exploration programme is expected to be completed over the next 12 months. “As in the past, Lucapa will fund the exploration costs from a portion of its returns from Lulo alluvial mining company Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo,” the Company stated. “Exploration thereafter will be results-driven.”

Lucapa Managing Director Stephen Wetherall commented: “The next phase of the kimberlite programme builds on the great body of exploration work completed over many years at Lulo to pin-point the source pipes hosting the world’s best alluvial diamonds.”

He added: “Like the diamond experts involved in our recent technical review, we remain convinced that the kimberlite source of these diamonds awaits discovery beneath our prolific alluvial diamond field.”