Lucapa recovers 176 carat diamond at Lulo mine in Angola

Lucapa Diamond announced Monday the recovery of the fifth +100 carat diamond found this year, a 176 carat Type IIa gem diamond from the Lulo alluvial mine in Angola.

The 176 carat diamond is the 45th +100 carat stone to be recovered from Lulo and the eighth largest, since alluvial operations began in 2015, the company said.

In 2021, Lucapa announced a 35% increase in the resource carats at Lulo, and the mine’s in-situ resource now sits at 135,900 carats at a modelled average diamond value of $1,440/carat.

The continual recovery of these and other large, high value diamonds has been a major source of revenue for Lulo over the years – in December 2023 Lucapa fetched $17 million for four diamonds recovered from Lulo – as well as being a major informant to the kimberlite exploration program.

Lucapa continues to hunt for the source of these large gems via the kimberlite exploration program which is currently bulk sampling kimberlitesin close proximity to the mining blocks where the 176 carat diamond was recovered.

“The recovery of this 176 carat diamond is yet more confirmation of the massive potential of the kimberlite province where we are focussing our exploration efforts to find the source(s) of these magnificent gems. As can be seen from the image below, the diamond has not travelled far as it still displays sharp, angular edges,” Lucapa CEO Nick Selby said in a news release.

The firm has a 40% stake in Lulo, which hosts the world’s highest dollar-per-carat alluvial diamonds. The rest is held by Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas, a private entity.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa finds Lulo mine’s fifth-largest diamond

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond has recovered a 203 carat diamond at its prolific Lulo mine in Angola, the fifth largest ever found at the operation.

The diamond is also the third 100 carat plus stone found at Lulo this year.

Lucapa said the high quality, type IIa diamond was recovered during the processing of run of mine stockpiled ore and its recovery follows those of a 162 and a 116 carat diamonds on successive days last month.

The mine, which hosts the world’s highest dollar per carat alluvial diamonds, began commercial production in January 2015. Only a year later, it delivered the largest ever diamond recovered in Angola a 404 carat white stone later named the “4th February Stone”.

Lucapa has a 40% stake in the Lulo mine. The rest is held by Angola’s national diamond company Endiama and Rosas & Petalas, a private entity.

Angola is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and sixth by volume. Its industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Source: DCLA

Solid Performance as Lucapa Sells $102m Rough in 2023

Lucapa reported a slight increase in total rough sales for FY2023 in what it described as a solid performance.

The Australian miner announced revenues of $102.2m, up by 1 per cent on the previous year.

Q4 earnings from its two mines – Lulo in Angola and Mothae in Lesotho – slipped by 1 per cent to $40.8m.

During the year Lucapa sold 11 diamonds from Lulo that fetched a total of $32.7m at two Q4 tenders in Q4. It also recovered two Type IIa diamonds from Lulo, a 208-ct and a 235-ct, the second largest recovery since commercial operations started in 2015.

“Both mines delivered a solid performance against processing and production targets in Q4 and we are pleased with the full year results which saw group guidance achieved,” said managing director Nick Selby.

Mothae performed well despite experiencing a lower dollar per carat average in Q4, which impacted its overall diamond price for the year. Lulo had a good run which saw its high-value recoveries attract firm prices at tender.”

Lulo recovered fewer carats than forecast (30,585) but achieved an average $2,700 per carat, well up on the forecast of $2,300. Mothae recovered more carats that forecast but saw average price per carat down from guidance of $1,000 to an actual $775.

Lucapa said in its ASX announcement that the overall diamond price index began to trend upwards towards the end of 2023, because of India’s two-month moratorium and EU sanctions on Russian goods.
“Tightening economic conditions imposed by central banks and a surge in inflation continues to impact discretionary spending on items such as diamond jewellery,” it said.

“However according to media reports at the end of 2023, there are signs the US market is recovering, however the Chinese market remains slow.”

Lucapa holds a 40 per cent stake in Lulo. The remainder is owned by Angola’s national diamond company Endiama (32 per cent) and by private Angolan company Rosas & Petalas (28 per cent). Lucapa holds a 70 per cent stake in Mothae. The government of Lesotho holds the remaining 30 per cent.

Source: DCLA

Lulo mine delivers its third largest diamond, weighing 208 ct

Lucapa Diamond has recovered a 208 carat diamond at its prolific Lulo mine in Angola, the third largest ever found at the operation.

The company said the high quality, type IIa diamond was unearthed at the lizeria, or terrace area, of its Mining Block 31 portion of Lulo, known for delivering high value stones.

The diamond is also the second 100 carat plus stone Lucapa retrieved in October, following the recovery of a 123 carat, type IIa rough at the start of the month.

The mine, which hosts the world’s highest dollar per carat alluvial diamonds, began commercial production in January 2015. Only a year later, it delivered the largest ever diamond recovered in Angola a 404 carat white stone later named the “4th February Stone”.

Lucapa finds Lulo mine’s third largest diamond
It is the second 100 carat plus diamond found at Lulo in October.
The operation has delivered 39 diamonds weighing more than 100 carats each to date.

Lucapa has a 40% stake in the Lulo mine. The rest is held by Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas, a private entity.

Angola is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and sixth by volume. Its industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Recovers Another +100-ct Diamond at Lulo

Lucapa has recovered a 180.87-carat Type IIa white diamond at its Lulo alluvial mine, in Angola.

It’s the second +100 carat diamond of the year so far. In February it found a 150-carat Type IIa D-color white diamond.

And it’s the 37th +100 carat since since the Australian miner began commercial production at Lulo in 2015.

Last November the 170.2-carat Lulo Rose, believed to be the largest pink diamond found in the last 300 years, was sold at tender for an undisclosed sum.

Lucapa, which also operates the Mothae mine, in Lesotho, has reported encouraging exploration results from its ongoing exploration program to discover the primary kimberlite source at Lulo.

Pic of the 180.87-carat Type IIa white diamond, courtesy Lucapa

Source: DCLA

Lucapa debt free as of July 4

 

ASX-listed Lucapa Diamond Company has fully repaid all interest-bearing loans that it borrowed from gold exploration and mining company Equigold and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).

Lucapa has repaid the final instalment of $1.3-million in principal and interest on the original $15-million Equigold debt, which was raised in 2018.

In addition, Lucapa subsidiary Mothae Diamonds recently made its final interest payment of R7.3-million to the IDC, with the IDC loan now also fully repaid.

Lucapa is now interest-bearing debt free, having repaid about A$30-million in debt and interest over an 18-month period

The company said in a July 4 statement that it would seek to have all securities with respect to those loans released.

Lucapa owns the Lulo mine, in Angola, and the Mothae mine, in Lesotho, and is developing the Merlin project, in Australia. It also explores for diamonds in Australia, Angola, Botswana and Lesotho.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Diamond Company sells Lulo diamonds for A$30.1m

                     Lucapa Diamond Company

Diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company has sold seven diamonds from its Lulo mine in Angola for $30.1 million, equating to over $39,000 per carat.

The company and its partners, Endiama E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, placed the “special sized” diamonds on international tender earlier this month. Together, the diamonds weighed a combined 767 carats.

The sold diamonds include a 170-carat fancy-coloured diamond dubbed the ‘Lulo Rose’ alongside three white Type IIa diamonds of over 100 carats and three other special-sized white Type IIa stones.

In late September, Lucapa announced it had recovered its 30th diamond of over 100 carats from Lulo, which has been in commercial production since 2015.

The company kicked off commercial production from its Mothae mine in Lesotho in 2019.

Meanwhile, Lucapa said it was continuing to explore for potential primary-source kimberlites or lamproites with its partners across the Lulo concession in Angola, the Brooking project in Australia, and the Orapa Area F project in Botswana.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Unearths 170ct. Pink from Lulo

 Lucapa Unearths 170ct. Pink from Lulo

Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered one of the largest pink diamonds in history: a 170-carat stone from the Lulo mine in Angola.

The type IIa rough, named the Lulo Rose, is “believed to be the largest pink diamond recovered in the last 300 years,” Lucapa said Wednesday. It is also the fifth-largest diamond from Lulo, and the deposit’s 27th over 100 carats since commercial production began in 2015. Lucapa plans to sell the diamond through an international tender conducted by Angolan state diamond-marketing company Sodiam, it noted.

“The record-breaking Lulo diamond field has again delivered a precious and large gemstone, this time an extremely rare and beautiful pink diamond,” said José Manuel Ganga Júnior, chairman of the board of state-owned Endiama, one of Lucapa’s partners in the deposit. “It is a significant day for the Angolan diamond industry.”

In addition to the pink, Lulo is also the source of Angola’s largest diamond, a 404-carat rough named the 4th February Stone.

Lucapa has begun bulk sampling at “priority kimberlites” as it searches for the primary source of Lulo’s diamonds, managing director Stephen Wetherall added.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa nears 25th +100 carat diamond recovered with 23rd being found

 

Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, have recovered the 23rd rough diamond over 100 carats at the Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola.

The 144 carat Type IIa D colour diamond was recovered from Mining Block 08, is the sixth 100 carat diamond recovered in 2021 so far and 23rd 100 carat stone recovered at Lulo since exploration and mining operations began.

Including the first 100 carat recovery from MB46 as 2020 ended, SML has now recovered seven 100 carat diamonds in a little over three months. With these 100 carat recoveries and the two Special pink diamonds in inventory, SML is well positioned to achieve record diamond revenues for the first half of 2021.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa nears 25th +100 carat diamond recovered with 23rd being found

 

Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, have recovered the 23rd rough diamond over 100 carats at the Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola.

The 144 carat Type IIa D colour diamond was recovered from Mining Block 08, is the sixth 100 carat diamond recovered in 2021 so far and 23rd 100 carat stone recovered at Lulo since exploration and mining operations began.

Including the first 100 carat recovery from MB46 as 2020 ended, SML has now recovered seven 100 carat diamonds in a little over three months. With these 100 carat recoveries and the two Special pink diamonds in inventory, SML is well positioned to achieve record diamond revenues for the first half of 2021.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa recovers third 100+ carat diamond for 2021

 

Lucapa Diamond Company has discovered a 114-carat white diamond from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola, Africa.

The 114-carat Type IIa D-colour white diamond is the third diamond mined from Lulo’s mining block 46 (MB46) in the last eight weeks.

Lucapa managing director Stephen Wetherall said block 46 was the best mined block to date.

Lucapa stated that the new discovery demonstrated the value of Lulo’s Canguige catchment and its adjacent kimberlites.

“To date, MB46 has averaged one 100-plus carat diamond recovered for every ~33,000 billion cubic metres of gravel processed. This is the best occurrence rate for any block mined to date at Lulo, including the prolific MB08,” Lucapa stated.

The 114 carat diamond is the 19th 100-plus carat diamond recovered from Lulo.

Lucapa started commercial diamond production at the site in 2015.

The recovery follows Lucapa’s announcement of discovering a 215-carat diamond from its Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, Africa this week.

Lucapa plans to expand Mothae to a 1.6 million tonnes a year processing capacity, a 45 per cent increase from its current rate.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa recovers third 100+ carat diamond for 2021

 

Lucapa Diamond Company has discovered a 114-carat white diamond from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola, Africa.

The 114-carat Type IIa D-colour white diamond is the third diamond mined from Lulo’s mining block 46 (MB46) in the last eight weeks.

Lucapa managing director Stephen Wetherall said block 46 was the best mined block to date.

Lucapa stated that the new discovery demonstrated the value of Lulo’s Canguige catchment and its adjacent kimberlites.

“To date, MB46 has averaged one 100-plus carat diamond recovered for every ~33,000 billion cubic metres of gravel processed. This is the best occurrence rate for any block mined to date at Lulo, including the prolific MB08,” Lucapa stated.

The 114 carat diamond is the 19th 100-plus carat diamond recovered from Lulo.

Lucapa started commercial diamond production at the site in 2015.

The recovery follows Lucapa’s announcement of discovering a 215-carat diamond from its Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, Africa this week.

Lucapa plans to expand Mothae to a 1.6 million tonnes a year processing capacity, a 45 per cent increase from its current rate.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa’s sale fresh sign of diamond market recovery

 

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond and its partners in Angola have sold $5.6 million worth of diamonds from the Lulo mine at their latest event, a fresh sign that the market is slowly improving.

The miner, Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas sold 3,862 carats at an average price of $1,450 per carat. The figure took total sales of diamonds recovered so far this year at Lulo mine to 16,128 carats and $21.3 million.

“As foreshadowed, the strong operational performance and record diamond recoveries at Lulo in July and August, together with a recovering diamond demand positively impacting prices, should bode well for Lulo in H2 2020,” Lucapa’s managing director Stephen Wetherall said.

Global demand for all types of diamonds fell between 2018 and 2019, affecting small stones producers the most, due to an oversupply in that segment that dragged prices down.

Increasing demand for synthetic diamonds also weighed on prices. Man-made stones require less investment than mined ones and can offer more attractive margins.

Just when the market seemed to have bottomed out, it was hit in March by the coronavirus pandemic. Its rapid spread forced some mine shutdowns and limited mobility of potential buyers, painting a bleak picture for even the largest diamond miners.

Conditions since have improved and De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer by value, was the first major producer to come out with good news. It said earlier this month it had made about three times as much in sales of roughs in the seventh sales cycle of the year as it did in the previous event.

The Anglo American unit, which sells diamonds to a handpicked group of about 80 buyers 10 times a year at events called sights, sold $320 million worth of rough diamonds in the seventh cycle. That compares to the $116 million fetched in the previous sight and is not far behind the $400 million De Beers sold on average each month last year.

Angola’s diamond push
Lucapa’s improved sale also come in the midst of Angola’s fresh attempts to boost its local industry. The West African nation is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and no.6 by volume.

According to official figures, however, only 40% of Angola’s kimberlite has been discovered.

The country’s industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Last year, Angola held its first public diamond auction and since then, producers no longer have to sell at below-market prices to a handful of buyers favoured by the state.

Endiama revealed in February it was seeking international partners in an attempt to place Angola among the world’s top-three diamond producers.

The country currently has 14 diamond mining projects, with the largest being the Catoca mine, which produces 61% of the country’s output.

Catoca is also the world’s fourth-largest diamond mine in the world. It is owned by a consortium of international mining interests, including Endiama, and Russia’s Alrosa.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa’s sale fresh sign of diamond market recovery

 

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond and its partners in Angola have sold $5.6 million worth of diamonds from the Lulo mine at their latest event, a fresh sign that the market is slowly improving.

The miner, Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas sold 3,862 carats at an average price of $1,450 per carat. The figure took total sales of diamonds recovered so far this year at Lulo mine to 16,128 carats and $21.3 million.

“As foreshadowed, the strong operational performance and record diamond recoveries at Lulo in July and August, together with a recovering diamond demand positively impacting prices, should bode well for Lulo in H2 2020,” Lucapa’s managing director Stephen Wetherall said.

Global demand for all types of diamonds fell between 2018 and 2019, affecting small stones producers the most, due to an oversupply in that segment that dragged prices down.

Increasing demand for synthetic diamonds also weighed on prices. Man-made stones require less investment than mined ones and can offer more attractive margins.

Just when the market seemed to have bottomed out, it was hit in March by the coronavirus pandemic. Its rapid spread forced some mine shutdowns and limited mobility of potential buyers, painting a bleak picture for even the largest diamond miners.

Conditions since have improved and De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer by value, was the first major producer to come out with good news. It said earlier this month it had made about three times as much in sales of roughs in the seventh sales cycle of the year as it did in the previous event.

The Anglo American unit, which sells diamonds to a handpicked group of about 80 buyers 10 times a year at events called sights, sold $320 million worth of rough diamonds in the seventh cycle. That compares to the $116 million fetched in the previous sight and is not far behind the $400 million De Beers sold on average each month last year.

Angola’s diamond push
Lucapa’s improved sale also come in the midst of Angola’s fresh attempts to boost its local industry. The West African nation is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and no.6 by volume.

According to official figures, however, only 40% of Angola’s kimberlite has been discovered.

The country’s industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Last year, Angola held its first public diamond auction and since then, producers no longer have to sell at below-market prices to a handful of buyers favoured by the state.

Endiama revealed in February it was seeking international partners in an attempt to place Angola among the world’s top-three diamond producers.

The country currently has 14 diamond mining projects, with the largest being the Catoca mine, which produces 61% of the country’s output.

Catoca is also the world’s fourth-largest diamond mine in the world. It is owned by a consortium of international mining interests, including Endiama, and Russia’s Alrosa.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa finds 171-carat diamond at Angola mine

Lucapa Diamond has recovered a 171 carat gem-quality stone from its prolific Lulo mine in Angola, which was restarted in early May.

The miner said the white diamond is the 15th 100-plus carat it has recovered to date from Lulo and the second 100-plus carat precious rock found in 2020.

The diamond was recovered from mining block six, where five other 100-plus carat diamonds had been previously unearthed.

Mining blocks six and eight have now produced 13 of the 15 100 plus carat diamonds recovered at Lulo, Lucapa said. This includes Angola’s largest recorded gem, which is a 404 carat diamond sold in 2016 for $16 million.

The miner has a 40% stake in the Lulo mine, which hosts the world’s highest dollar-per-carat alluvial diamonds. The rest is held by Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas, a private entity.

Angola is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and no.6 by volume. Its industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Last year, the country held its first public diamond auction and since then, producers no longer have to sell at below-market prices to a handful of buyers favoured by the state.

Endiama recently revealed it was seeking international partners in an attempt to place Angola among the world’s top-three diamond producers.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa finds 171-carat diamond at Angola mine

Lucapa Diamond has recovered a 171 carat gem-quality stone from its prolific Lulo mine in Angola, which was restarted in early May.

The miner said the white diamond is the 15th 100-plus carat it has recovered to date from Lulo and the second 100-plus carat precious rock found in 2020.

The diamond was recovered from mining block six, where five other 100-plus carat diamonds had been previously unearthed.

Mining blocks six and eight have now produced 13 of the 15 100 plus carat diamonds recovered at Lulo, Lucapa said. This includes Angola’s largest recorded gem, which is a 404 carat diamond sold in 2016 for $16 million.

The miner has a 40% stake in the Lulo mine, which hosts the world’s highest dollar-per-carat alluvial diamonds. The rest is held by Angola’s national diamond company (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas, a private entity.

Angola is the world’s fifth diamond producer by value and no.6 by volume. Its industry, which began a century ago under Portuguese colonial rule, is successfully being liberalized.

Last year, the country held its first public diamond auction and since then, producers no longer have to sell at below-market prices to a handful of buyers favoured by the state.

Endiama recently revealed it was seeking international partners in an attempt to place Angola among the world’s top-three diamond producers.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Unearths 117ct. Rough

Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 117-carat, gem-quality diamond from its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola.

The stone is the miner’s 14th over 100 carats from Lulo to date, and its first in that size category this year, it said Thursday. Lucapa found the stone in mining block 19, located between its high-value mining block 6 and mining block 8 portions of the deposit. That area was where the company recovered the 404-carat 4th February Stone, Angola’s largest diamond, which sold for $16 million in 2016.

“The recovery of this gem-quality, 117-carat diamond represents a positive start for Lulo in 2020 as we continue rolling out our plans to increase production and revenues this year,” said Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Unearths 117ct. Rough

Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 117-carat, gem-quality diamond from its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola.

The stone is the miner’s 14th over 100 carats from Lulo to date, and its first in that size category this year, it said Thursday. Lucapa found the stone in mining block 19, located between its high-value mining block 6 and mining block 8 portions of the deposit. That area was where the company recovered the 404-carat 4th February Stone, Angola’s largest diamond, which sold for $16 million in 2016.

“The recovery of this gem-quality, 117-carat diamond represents a positive start for Lulo in 2020 as we continue rolling out our plans to increase production and revenues this year,” said Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall.

Source: DCLA