Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. has recovered a 67.87 carat gem quality octahedron diamond during production ramp-up at the Gahcho Kue diamond mine, the Company said in a statement yesterday. This is the largest gem quality diamond recovered to date at Gahcho Kué, it added.

Patrick Evans, Mountain Province President and CEO said, “The presence of large gem quality diamonds at Gahcho Kué was established during the bulk sampling when a 25.13 carat octahedron was recovered.”

He added that the recovery of a 67.87 carat gem quality diamond during production ramp-up was very encouraging.

He also revealed that following some disruptions due to conveyor systems winterization issues, the production ramp-up at Gahcho Kué is once again progressing well and the mine is on track to achieve commercial production on schedule during the current quarter.

Mountain Province also announced that the Company’s second sale of diamonds from ramp-up production will take place in Antwerp, Belgium, from February 20 to March 1, 2017.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories.