Lucapa Diamond Company Limited has announced that the ongoing kimberlite exploration programme at Lulo, which is designed to identify the primary hard-rock source or sources of the exceptional alluvial diamonds found there, is nearing completion. Once all the results of the kimberlite drilling are in, the miner will commence working on a comprehensive independent review to guide follow-up programmes.

In a statement released earlier today, the miner and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. (“Endiama”) and Rosas & Petalas, provided an update of the progress of the ongoing kimberlite exploration programme. It said that 53 drill targets have been identified as kimberlites and core from a further 25 targets that have been successfully confirmed as kimberlites is being sent for laboratory analysis. The targets are proximal to, and/or upstream of, the alluvial mining blocks, which have yielded some exceptional diamonds till date.

Currently, Lulo is the world’s highest average US$ per carat alluvial production, the Company avers.

The Company said that micro-diamond and diamond-associated garnets have been recovered from eight Lulo kimberlites in latest laboratory results, including a 2 carat diamond recovered from bulk sampling of kimberlite L104. A micro-diamond was also recovered from a pit sample at kimberlite L204, in addition to a strong lherzolitic garnet chemistry signature, which is also closely associated with diamonds. In addition, diamond-associated G3D, G4D and G10D garnets were recovered from seven Lulo kimberlites. These eight kimberlites will be the subject of further testing.

A further seven targets are to be drilled to complete the current campaign, along with any additional proximal targets identified, Lucapa said.