Lucara Diamond Corporation has announced the recovery of a 470 carat top light brown clivage diamond from its 100% owned Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana.
According a statement released on Monday, the diamond, measuring 49x42x26mm, was recovered from direct milling of ore sourced from the EM/PK(S) unit of the South Lobe.
The 470 carat recovery forms a notable contribution to a series of top quality gem and clivage quality diamond recoveries during a recent production run, including an additional 5 diamonds greater than 100 carats (265ct, 183ct, 161ct, 116ct, 106ct) and 13 diamonds between 50 and 100 carats in weight.
The May production run, dominated by EM/PK(S) ore, produced diamonds greater than 10.8 carat in weight accounting for 12.7% weight percent of total production, exceeding resource expectations.
Continued strong resource performance and recovery of large diamonds, the company said, reinforces the significance of the EM/PK(S) as an important economic driver for the proposed underground mine at Karowe.
The 470 carat diamond was recovered in the Coarse XRT circuit and represents the third +300 carat diamond recovered to date in 2021.
Year to date, Karowe has produced 10 diamonds greater than 100 carats including 6 diamonds greater than 200 carats, including the 341 carat and 378 carat top white diamonds recovered in January 2021.
Eira Thomas the CEO of Lucara Diamond Corporation said the benefits of a South Lobe dominated mine-plan continue to be realized in 2021 and underpins the company confidence in the ever-improving Karowe resource as they mine deeper in the open pit to 2026 and move into underground mining out to at least 2040.
“Both main rock types from the South Lobe continue to deliver large, high value diamonds, including 6 diamonds greater than 200 carats in the first five months of this year alone. Our operations remain safe, stable and strong, maintaining all COVID-19 protocols,” he said.
