Lucapa unearths 90-carat rough in Angola

This 90.32-carat, D color, Type IIa diamond, which was uncovered at the Lulo concession in Angola, is mining company Lucapa’s largest since it started commercial mining operations in January.It surpassed an “exceptional” 63.05-carat, Type IIa diamond found in April to become the largest recovered since alluvial mining commenced mining at Lulo in January.

Other recent large finds from the area include diamonds weighing 56.52 carats, 36.61 carats, 29.94 carats, 21.16 carats, 18.71 carats, and 17.06 carats, as well as two 11-carat diamonds.

Including preliminary bulk sampling results, Lucapa has uncovered a total of 33 special diamonds (diamonds weighing more than 10.8 carats each) from Mining Block 8 since August 2012.

The biggest overall find from Lulo was a 131.40-carat, D color, Type IIa diamond recovered from preliminary bulk sampling in 2012.

The Lulo Diamond Concession is located in the diamond-rich Lunda Norte province in Angola.

Lucapa and its partners currently are conducting pitting programs that aim to expand Mining Block 8 at Lulo. Pitting also is being done to test the E259 kimberlite target, which is the closest kimberlite target to where the large special diamonds are being found at Mining Block 8, leading the company to consider it a potential primary source.