Mothae kimberlite in Lesotho commissioned

Lucapa Diamond Company Limited and the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho announce the commissioning of the 1.1Mtpa treatment plant has commenced at the high-quality Mothae kimberlite diamond mine in Lesotho.

 

First commercial diamond recoveries are expected from the Mothae mine in early November 2018, complementing production from the high-quality Lulo alluvial diamond mine operated by Lucapa in Angola.

Mothae bulk sampling diamonds, including Specials of up to 89 carats, from the 2,500 carat parcel exported to Antwerp in the September 2018

 

More than 4,100 carats of diamonds have been recovered from the bulk sampling of areas within the Mothae kimberlite pipe which had not previously been tested. These included Specials (large diamonds >10.8 carats) of up to 89 carats.

 

The recovery of these large diamonds from the bulk sampling program conducted by Lucapa at Mothae is consistent with the recoveries made during trial mining operations conducted between 2008 and 2012. Approximately 23,400 carats of diamonds were recovered during the trial mining phase, including Specials of up to 254 carats and 96 individual stones weighing more than 10 carats.

 

Certain of these trial mining diamonds achieved sale prices of up to US$57,000 per carat.

 

 

•