Lucapa Diamond Co. Ltd. reported the recovery of an 89-carat yellow diamond from the Mothae Diamond Project in Lesotho. The diamond was recovered from the current bulk sampling programme at Mothae, where construction of the new commercial diamond plant continues on schedule for commissioning in the second half of this year.
The bulk sampling programme is designed 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. The 89-carat diamond was recovered from the first few days of processing kimberlite material from the south-east zone.
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 said, “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 150tph commercial diamond plant continues on schedule for commissioning in the second half of this year.”