Even before commercial production commences, Lucapa Diamond Company Limited has recovered a 89 carat yellow diamond during bulk sampling from Mothae’s south-east zone.

The Mothae Diamond Project in Lesotho, of which Lucapa is 70% owner in its joint venture with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho (GoL) which owns 30%, is slated to go commercial in H2 2018. Currently, bulk sampling and the construction of the new 150 tonne per hour commercial diamond plant is underway.

The bulk sampling programme was undertaken in order “to expand and improve” the current Mothae JORC Resource “by processing areas of the kimberlite pipe which are either not included in the resource or where Lucapa believes there has been insufficient historical sampling”.

Lucapa Managing Director Stephen Wetherall said the recovery of such a large diamond so early in the bulk sampling programme “provides further proof that like the neighbouring Letšeng mine, Mothae is another source of large diamonds”.

He commented: “Having recently recovered a 25 carat yellow diamond from the previously untested neck zone in our bulk sampling programme, we are tremendously encouraged that this 89 carat diamond was recovered from the south-east zone, an area of the Mothae kimberlite pipe where there has been very limited historical testing. This underlines our belief in Mothae. It also vindicates Lucapa’s decision to commit resources to the additional bulk sampling programme as construction of our new 150 tph commercial diamond plant continues on schedule for commissioning in the second half of this year.” 

Pic Cap: 89 carat yellow diamond recovered from the Mothae bulk sampling programme

Pic Courtesy: Lucapa Diamond Company Limited